Remember the section of Reader’s Digest entitled “Laugher is the Best Medicine”. There are jokes and anecdotes and funny stories. Apparently, that is not only a clever title, but also absolutely true.
A good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do.
According to the Mayo Clinic research, a hearty laugh has great short-term effects. When you laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.
Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles and increases the endorphins that are released in your brain.
Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up though. It is also good for you, long-term.
When we have negative thoughts, chemical reactions affect our bodies by bringing more stress into our systems and decreasing our immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
Laughter also can help relieve pain. It causes the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Again, laughter improves your mood. Laughter can help lessen depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.
Another excellent benefit of laughter is that it can help tone your abs. Seriously. When you laugh, the muscles in your stomach expand and contract, similar to when you intentionally exercise your abs.
Awesome! I will be ditching planks and just watch The Three Stooges marathon, while I eat Oreos.
I am extremely thankful that my husband and children can make me laugh at the drop of a hat. There have been times that Mike and I have found something funny in church and it became quite a dilemma. We truly could not stop. As long as we didn’t look at each other, we were okay.
While I was doing a bit of research about the healthy benefits of laugher, I came across a real question someone posted. He asked if you can actually die laughing. The answer was that a man who died while watching a comedy show called The Goodies reportedly died laughing. It was discovered, however, that he was suffering from a severe, hereditary heart condition. No one who has “laughed themselves to death” has been in good health, so it doesn’t appear that laughter alone can kill anyone.
Good to know. But I’m thinking, what a way to go.