Here's why laughter is the best medicine - Geisinger

Each time you laugh, you breathe more deeply. This sends more oxygen into your lungs and helps your heart pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your ... Skiptomaincontent Wellnessarticles Fromreducingstresstoboostingyourimmunesystem,therearemanyhealthbenefitsofbustingoutsomelaughs. You’veprobablyheardtheoldsaying“Laughteristhebestmedicine.”Butit’smorethanjustanoldwives’tale—laughingcanreallybenefityourhealth. “Justafewminutesoflaughteradaycanimproveyourhealthinmorewaysthanyoumightrealize,”explainsMariaHeveran,aphysicianassistantatGeisinger’sLewisburgclinic. Agiggleadaykeepsthedoctoraway Laughingnotonlyfeelsgood,itisgoodforyou.This“medicine”isfast,freeandcanbetakenanywhere.Herearesomeofthepowerfulhealthbenefitsaboutoflaughtercandeliver. Releasingendorphins Haveyoueverwonderedwhylaughingliterallyfeelsgreat?Whenyoulaugh,yourbodyreleasesfeel-goodchemicalscalledendorphins. “Releasingendorphinscanhelpincreasethebody’snaturalpainkillingresponse,”saysHeveran.“Thishelpswithchronicpainandcanimproveyourmood.” Reducingstress Thoseextraendorphinsdomorethangiveyoualittlelift—theycanalsoreducestress.“Laughterisavaluablecopingmechanismwhenwe’refeelingstressed,”Heverannotes.“Aheartybellylaughcanhelpstartthedayonapositivenoteandfinishitonarelaxingone.” Boostingyourimmunesystem Whenyougiggle,chortleorguffaw,youreduceyourbody’sproductionofstresshormones,likecortisol.“Itcanalsoactivateinfection-fightingcells,”saysHeveran.“Bymanagingstresswithlaughter,you’llhelpfightoffstressreactionsinthebody.” Increasingbloodflowtointernalorgans Eachtimeyoulaugh,youbreathemoredeeply.Thissendsmoreoxygenintoyourlungsandhelpsyourheartpumpoxygen-richbloodthroughoutyourbody.Increasedoxygenpromoteshealthycellgrowthandallowsyourorganstoworkmoreefficiently,helpingyoufeelyourbest. Relaxingmuscles Feelingtense?Afewminutesofheartylaughtercanreducetensioninthebodyandmakeyoufeelcalmer. Waystoaddlaughtertoyourday Addingafewmorechucklesintoyourroutineiseasierthanyouthink.Herearefivewaystogetstarted: 1. Watchsomethingfunny Whetherit’safavoriteTVshow,astand-upcomedyspecialorsillycatvideos,maketimetoenjoysomethingyoufindhumorous. Youcanevenmakearitualoutofit—makeasnackandcurlupintoyourfavoritecomfyspotafewtimesaweek.“Ifyoudon’thavetimetowatchafullTVshowormovie,tryafunnyvideoorcommercialinstead,”suggestsHeveran. 2. Shareajoke Whetherit’sagroan-worthyDadjokeoraseriesofbadpuns,shareafewjokestobrightensomeone’sday.Or,ifyou’retheoneinneedofsomelaughs,askalovedonetoregaleyouwithafewfunnies. 3. Hangoutwithapet Ourfurry,featheredandscalypalsaregreatatdeliveringlaughs.Chaseyourcompanionastheyscamperaroundthehouse,breakoutthelaserpointerorplaywiththeirfavoritetoy. 4. Haveadanceparty Nothingunleashessillinesslikeanimpromptudanceparty.Fireupyourfavoritetunesandstartmoving.Ifyoulivewithothers,getthefamilyinvolvedanddancebadlyonpurpose.Or,ifyoureallywanttoshowoff,bustoutyourbestmoves. “Notonlywillitgetyoulaughing,you’llgetsomeexercise,too,”saysHeveran. 5. Chatwithafriend Thenexttimeyoufindyourselfinneedofafewguffaws,considerreachingouttoapalwhocracksyouup.Youmightswapfunnypicturesorrememberacomicalmomentyoushared.Whetherthroughavideocallorafewlightheartedtextmessages,connectingwithafriendcanaddmorelaughtertoyourlife. Trytolookonthebrightside Inadditiontoofferingbenefitstoyourphysicalhealth,laughterbenefitsyourmentalandemotionalwell-beingandcanhelpyoucopewiththestressesofeverydaylife. “Insteadofruminatingaboutastressfulsituationorminormistake,trycreatinganewhabitofjokingaboutit,”Heveransuggests.“Findinghumorinlifecanhelpyouseethingsinadifferentlightandreduceyourstressaboutthecircumstance.” Nextsteps MeetMariaHeveran,PA-C LearnaboutprimarycareatGeisinger Wantmorecontentlikethis?Signupforourwellnessemail. Signupforourwellnessemail May12,2020 Stressanditseffectonbloodpressure Tags: Article COVID Heart&circulation Jul.16,2020 Positiveperspectives:Redefiningself-careandcommunity Tags: Article COVID Mentalhealth May21,2020 DoIreallyneedaprimarycarephysician? Tags: Article Wellness Apr.29,2020 Oneantidotetostress?Self-care. Tags: Article Wellness PAHealthmagazine COVID Wellnessarticles Wellnessarticles SignupforeNewsletter Events&classes GeisingerStories