Sunday, September 2, 2012

Humor And Health Are Closely Related

By Concepcion McConnell


Almost everyone has heard the phrase "laughter is the best medicine". However, in recent years, the wisdom of this statement has been proven scientifically. There is a close link between humor and health and laughter really is associated with a vast array of health benefits and other positive side effects.

Participating in such activity can improve one's immune system, promote lung and heart health, relieve pain, and alleviate stress. One of the main reasons for this is the stimulating effect laughter has on the emotions, physical body and mind. Laughing promotes the production of dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which are referred to as the human body's happiness chemicals.

Additionally, boisterous laughter will also flush out harmful toxins from one's body. This action is the result of its ability to promote optimum cardiovascular function, which boosts blood circulation. Additionally, although unknown to numerous individuals, laughing burns a substantial number of calories. Studies have shown that vigorous laughter, even when only participated in for a minute, offers the same cardiovascular benefits as riding a stationary bike for fifteen minutes.

As mentioned earlier, discovering the humorous things in life will also bolster an individual's immune system. The immune system is responsible for protecting one from any threat to his or her overall health, such as viruses, free radicals or various infections. Laughing regularly boosts the body's production of white blood cells, the latter of which combat the aforementioned health threats. Individuals who laugh consistently recover quicker when they are ill and experience sickness less often.

Laughter is also a fantastic stress buster. Stress hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol are released at a much slower pace when a person is engaged in laughter. Many individuals can remember a time that they laughed so hard they cried. Most people who have experienced this will state that afterwards they felt inner calmness and emotional relief. This is because releasing emotions by laughing is considered a positive way to relieve stress, as opposed to becoming angry and shouting.

Humor is also considered a natural painkiller. Endorphins, which act as natural painkillers, are released when a person laughs. Therefore, the more one can find to laugh about, the better he or she will ultimately feel. Laughing also serves as a distraction from negative thoughts and enhances brain function. Those who embrace humor typically have a higher level of mental clarity and concentration than their more solemn counterparts.

There are numerous ways to enjoy the health benefits associated with laughter. Those who consciously begin observing the events and people around them will likely discover that humorous things occur more often than they may have initially thought. Therefore, those who wish to obtain health benefits from laughter should not miss any opportunity to enjoy a funny situation.

Additional ways to add laughter to one's life include watching comedy flicks or funny TV shows, or patronizing a local comedy club. Ongoing research is being conducted with regard to this phenomenon. However, enough evidence is already in place to suggest that the connection between humor and health should be acknowledged.




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