A good laugh is good for the heart, according to a study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Researchers presented their findings at the Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Orlando, Florida.

For their findings, the team showed two movies to 20 healthy non-smoking, volunteers and tested the function of their blood vessels.

They found that laughter-provoking movies, such as "King Pin" increased blood flow by an average of 22 percent compared with a decrease of 35 percent for stressful movies such as "Saving Private Ryan."

The team reported laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels called the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.

"It is conceivable that laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease," said lead researcher Dr. Michael Miller.

Miller stressed exercise should not be replaced with laughter, but did recommend people try to laugh about 15 minutes a day in conjunction with thirty minutes of exercise three times a week