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| Laugh Your Way To Better
Health A hearty laugh can go a long way in helping you feel good. And it can help others feel good too; it’s hard to resist laughing when someone else is. Maybe certain movies make you laugh; maybe Sunday cartoons get you to chuckle. Whatever it is that makes you laugh, make time for it. It’s good for you! Here’s what laughter can do for your health: Gives your heart and lungs a workout. Research shows that a belly laugh can momentarily increase your heart rate and expand your lungs. Helps you relax. Your pulse and heart rate rise slightly when you laugh. But after laughing, they decrease to below normal, causing a feeling of relaxation. This sense of relaxation can last up to 45 minutes after laughing. Boosts the immune system. Researchers have found that laughter triggers certain chemicals that help the immune system to kick in. These same chemicals decrease when you’re under stress. Reduces pain. Laughter may play a role in stimulating endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Improves mood. Ever notice that you feel better when you laugh? That’s because laughter can help you look at life from a lighter side. Gives a feeling of control. The next time you’re in the middle of a crisis and feel helpless, try to find something humorous in the situation. It can give you a sense of control. Joking about a problem is one way to rise above it. Makes you more creative. Laughing can help boost your imagination and creativity. Reduces anger. Laughter is a great way to release pent-up anger, which has been linked to high blood pressure and depression. Helps with chronic breathing problems. Laughing can help people who have breathing problems such as emphysema because the change in breathing pattern during laughter aids ventilation and clears mucus. Don’t be so serious! Everyone needs a good laugh now and then. It’s free, it’s contagious, and it’s good for you.
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