Laughter is the Best Medicine - Caregiver.com

Laughter relaxes the whole body, relieving tension and stress. It has been shown that following a good, hearty laugh, muscles in the body are ... Skiptomaincontent Search Advertise Subscribe facebook twitter youtube pinterest Magazine CurrentIssue Subscribe Advertising FearlessCaregiverConference UpcomingConferences PreviousConferences ConferenceSponsorship Articles Channels Alzheimer's Caregiver101 Long-TermCare CarefortheCaregiver Community Editor'sPen Carenotes CareTips CareVerses BookClub FearlessCaregiverProfiles Podcasts Social Don'tMesswithMe Newsletters eNewsletter eNewsletterArchive Subscribe CaregiverCommuniques AboutUs OurFounder OurTeam ContactUs Channels Alzheimer's Caregiver101 Long-TermCare CarefortheCaregiver HomeArticlesLaughteristheBestMedicine RSS Print ×ExpandLaughterisBestMedicineWhenwasthelasttimeyouhadareallygoodlaugh?  Thescientificdefinitionoflaughingisa“successive,rhythmic,spasmodicexpirationwithopenglottisandvibrationofthevocalcords,oftenaccompaniedbybaringoftheteethandfacialexpression.” Thatdoesn’tbegintotellthestoryofwhatlaughingdoesforus,however.Thebottomlineisthatlaughingismedicallybeneficial.  Laughterestablishesorrestoresapositiveemotionalclimateandasenseofconnectionbetweentwopeople.Infact,someresearchersbelievethatthemajorfunctionoflaughteristobringpeopletogether–themoresocialapersonisandthemoresocialsupportapersonreceives,themorelikelythatlaughterwillresultfromthatsocialconnection.Mutuallaughterandplayareanessentialcomponentofstrong,healthyrelationships.Bymakingaconsciousefforttoincorporatemorehumorandplayintoyourdailyinteractions,youcanimprovethequalityofyourrelationships.  WhatarethePhysicalEffectsofLaughing?  Laughingmakespeoplefeelgoodforareason.Studieshaveshownthatlaughterbooststheimmunesystemandtriggersthereleaseofpleasure-inducingneurochemicalsinthebrain.Theimmunesystem,whichcontainsspecialcellsthatareresponsiblefordefendingthebodyagainstinfection,havebeenshowntoincreaseduringtheactoflaughing.Inthecentralnervoussystem,thebrainreleasespowerfulendorphinsasaresultoflaughing.Endorphinsarenatural,morphine-likecompoundsthatraisethepainthreshold,producesedationandinduceeuphoria(commonlycalleda“naturalhigh”.) Inotherwords,wefeelbetterwhenwelaughbecauseendorphinsreducephysicalandmentalpain.Whilethismaybeawonderfulfeeling,laughinghasotherbenefitsaswell: Duringalaugh,respiration,heartrateandbloodpressuretemporarilyrise.Thiscausesoxygentosurgethroughthebloodstreamthatthenresultsinlowerbloodpressure.   Laughterimprovesthefunctionofbloodvesselsandincreasesbloodflow,whichcanhelpprotectagainstaheartattackandothercardiovascularproblems.  Laughterreducespainandallowstolerationofdiscomfort.  Laughterreducesbloodsugarlevels,increasingglucosetoleranceindiabeticsandnon-diabeticsalike.  Laughterrelaxesthewholebody,relievingtensionandstress.Ithasbeenshownthatfollowingagood,heartylaugh,musclesinthebodyarerelaxedforupto45minutesafterward. Laughingburnscalories–laughterissometimesreferredtoas“innerjogging”.Aheartylaughgivesthemusclesoftheface,chest,shoulders,stomachanddiaphragmagoodworkout.  Laughteralsohelpstocreateapositivemood.Itallowstheexpressionofhappinessandthereleaseofanxiety.Humoreasestensionandisagreatantidotetoastressfulsituation.Laughterisoftenseenasatemporaryvacationfromeverydayproblems,bringingustoaparadiseinwhichworriesdonotexist.Humorandlaughterarenaturalsafetyvalvesthatshutoffcertainhormonesthatarereleasedduringstressfulsituations.Infact,yoursenseofhumorisoneofthemostpowerfultoolsyouhavetomakecertainthatyourdailymoodandemotionalstatesupportgoodhealth. Herearesomewaystobringmorehumorandlaughterintoyourlife:  Smile:Smilingisthebeginningoflaughter.Likelaughter,it’scontagious.Whenyoulookatsomeoneorseesomethingevenmildlypleasing,practicesmiling!  Countyourblessings:Literallymakealist.Thesimpleactofconsideringthegoodthingsinyourlifewilldistanceyoufromnegativethoughtsthatareabarriertohumorandlaughter!  Whenyouhearlaughter,movetowardit:Peopleareveryhappytosharesomethingfunnybecauseitgivesthemanopportunitytolaughagainandfeelthehumorinit.Whenindividualshearlaughter,theyseekitoutandask“What’sfunny?”  Spendtimewithfun,playfulpeople:Thesearepeoplewholaugheasily,bothatthemselvesandatlife’sabsurditiesandwhoroutinelyfindhumorineverydayevents.Theirplayfulpointofviewandlaughterarecontagious!!  Bringhumorintoconversations:Askpeople:What’sthefunniestthingthathappenedtoyoutoday?Thisweek?Inyourlife?   Laughatyourself:Shareyourembarrassingmoments.  Attempttolaughatsituationsratherthanbemoanthem:Lookforthehumorinabadsituation,theironyandabsurdityoflife.Thiswillhelpimproveyourmoodandthemoodofthosearoundyou.  Surroundyourselfwithreminderstolightenup:Keepatoyonyourdeskorinyourcar.Putupafunnyposterinyouroffice.Chooseacomputerscreensaverthatmakesyoulaugh.Framephotosofyouandyourfamilyhavingfun.  Keepthingsinperspective:Manythingsarebeyondourcontrol,somakethebestofasituationandfindthepositiveinthesituation. Dealwithstress:Stressismajorimpedimenttohumorandlaughter.  Payattentiontochildrenandemulatethem:Theyaretheexpertsonplaying,takinglifelightlyandlaughing!!  Hereisasimpleprescriptionforahealthylife: Thirtyminutesofexerciseatleast3timesaweek,and15minutesoflaughteronadailybasis.  Thebottomline–laughtermayjustbethebestmedicineonthemarkettoday. BacktoSearchResults Tags humor Tips MentalHealth Laughter by HelenHunter,ACSW,LSW Comments(1)CommentFeed U.S.AmbassadortoRussia Hebecameill,wasreturnedtotheU.S;onthevergeofdeath;requesteddoctorstoallowcomedyTVshowsinhishospitalroomwhichgavehimseconds,thenminutesofsleep.Waseventuallyhealed. 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