Everybody enjoys a good laugh, right? I try to keep a sense of humor about everything. It's partly because of my personality, but also because there are health benefits that can be gained from laughter. Several studies have been conducted about the positive effects of laughter on stress. Many healthcare professionals have written about patients who have seen tremendous improvements with their illness due to humor.
Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.
Laughter is good for the heart. Think of laughter as internal jogging because it helps strengthen the body's strongest muscle, the heart. It increases circulation and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body. Humor is known to lower blood pressure (and for reasons that escape even the most trained medical experts, women seem to benefit even more so from frequent laughing than do men).
Outside of just physical benefits, laughter brings people together. It makes us feel like we are apart of something bigger than ourselves. Even if we disagree, laughter can ease the tension. People feel closer when they share a laugh.
Learn to laugh. Find the funny and things are never as bad as they seem. Proving that the old adage is true, laughter really is the best medicine. Thanks for your ear and keep reading!
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