Tonight I had the great pleasure of attending a concert by two of my favorite entertainers, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Twenty-five years after their multi-year career on the Carol Burnett show they remain sharp, funny and making not only the audience, but one another laugh. As I giggled at their antics I was reminded of the power of laughter to help us heal.

Twenty years ago, Norman Cousins gave the laughter is medicine message a boost when he wrote Anatomy of an Illness. In it he shared his experience that watching comedy movies helped him recover from an illness that was predicted to be fatal.

The medical profession now acknowledges that tickling your funny bone can be good for your health. Research shows laughter boosts levels of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and suppresses levels of epinephrine, the stress hormone. It increases the number and activity of natural killer cells, which attack viruses, foreign cells and cancer cells and stimulates the immune system. I don't need studies to tell me that it lifts depression, relieves pain and enhances my alertness, but they are there.

Brett Leake, a comedian who has muscular dystrophy says, "I've been doing comedy for 13 and 1/2 years and I know I'm healthier because I've done this. Something happens inside my body. I can't say it regenerates, but it certainly holds steady the progress, slows it down for the night."

I've a collection of Victor Borge and Johnny Carson videos, which I've used often for all the reasons cited above. As I watched Conway and Korman I was struck by the obvious good health of these talented men who not only delivered, but experienced laughter as they worked. What a blessing.

But I did have one moment that took my breath away. Seventy-five year old Korman turned sideways to talk to Conway and when he did this osteoporosis-conscious audience member was saddened to see his shoulders and upper back had the rounding that is a red flag for osteoporosis.

This week I think I'll have to find his address and send him last week's column on men and osteoporosis.

Meantime remember. A smile is a frown turned upside down.

Have a mirth-filled week.