Laughter is the best medicine, agreed. But ever heard someone die of laughter.
Yes, you heard that right!
Death from laughter, Commonly Known as ‘Kuru’, is characterised by an episode of laughing fits.
Symptoms: Kuru is a neurodegenerative disorder. Its symptoms include Tremors, muscle twitching, impulsive movements of the head, sometimes accompanied by a smile, walking difficulties, eating difficulties, behavioural and mood changes, headache, fatigue, dementia, runny nose, cough, fever, joint pain in legs.
Cause: The ritualistic cannibalism of the early human, has been a major cause of the spread of the disease.
It was more common among the women and children, who ate the brain of their dead relatives than the men who ate the muscles. The reason being, the brain is the most infectious part of the body and houses several prions.
Diagnosis: Kuru can be diagnosed via neurological examination, followed by blood tests and serum tests.
Cure: NO CURE
Evidence from history:
Cleopatra ( wife of Julius Ceaser) confirmed that her servant died laughing, after witnessing her husband’s death. In 1410 King Martin of Aragon is said to have died due to indigestion which was followed by laughing fits after hearing a joke from his court jester. In 1556 Pietro Aretino died after suffocation due to uncontrolled laughing.