It’s obvious that laughter has a positive impact on us emotionally. We simply feel good after we laugh. However, research confirms that laughter also has numerous physical benefits that can improve health.
As early as the 13th century, surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain. In more recent years, researchers have conducted studies to learn the impact of laughter on health. These studies revealed that laughter produces numerous health benefits, including reduction of pain, decrease in stress-related hormones, and a strengthened immune system.
Humor is different than laughter. Humor is the stimulus that evokes laughter. Humor in itself has emotional and physiological benefits. Laugher, however, produces even greater benefits.
Laughter and Hormones
A healthy endocrine system consists of a having properly balanced hormones. Hormonal levels that are too high or too low can lead to insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms. Laughter can be of great help here.
Laughter can raise DHEA, a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. DHEA production declines with age, but DHEA is important in slowing the aging process, enhancing exercise performance, and strengthening mental skills. The body also converts DHEA into testosterone and estrogen.
Laughter also lowers several hormones that are related to stress. These include epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, and norepinephrine, which increases the rate of contractions in the heart. Laughter can also lower cortisol levels when they are too high. High cortisol levels are the result of stress, and long-term stress and high cortisol levels can lead to adrenal fatigue.
Laughter and the Circulatory System
Laughter can improve the circulatory system by producing physiological results similar to those achieved through moderate exercise. Intense laughter will initially cause the heart and respiratory rates to rise, which will cause increased oxygen consumption. Following these changes, the muscles will relax and the respiratory rate will decrease. The heart rate will also decrease and blood pressure will drop.
Laughter and the Immune System
Laughter boosts the immune systems by increasing natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. NK cells are white blood cells that can destroy cancerous and virally-infected cells without harming normal cells. A low level of NK cell activity is correlated with cancer.
Laughter and Tension
Laughter eases tension by relaxing muscles throughout the body. In particular, it releases tension in the muscles of the face, neck, shoulder and abdomen, which are come areas of built-up tension. Uncontrolled laugher creates a convulsive reaction which loosens muscular tension and mobilizes breathing.
More Benefits of Laughter
There are many more health benefits of laughter. Here are some of the more notable ones:
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It improves mental function, leaving you more alert, improving memory and creativity.
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It stabilizes blood sugar.
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It reduces inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can lead to serious health conditions.
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It gives the heart, lungs, diaphragm, and the abdominal muscles a light workout.
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It eases digestion and soothes stomach aches.
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It relieves pain.
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It stimulates the hypothalamus to releases dopamine. Dopamine influences the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
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It stimulates the release of endorphins, which are capable of relieving pain and producing feelings of euphoria.
Find Something to Laugh about every Day
When I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, part of my treatment was to find something to laugh about each day. Interestingly, the period of time when I laughed the most was the same period of time when I experienced the greatest improvement in my symptoms.
Of course, there are serious things in life that aren’t funny. I am not suggesting that we laugh away our problems. What I am suggesting is that if we learn to find more humor in life, then the resulting laughter can make our problems more manageable and can counteract the harmful impact on health that often accompanies stress.
http://www.cancercenter.com/treatments/laughter-therapy/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-frank-lipman/laughter-health_b_1380643.html
Conquering Chronic Fatigue 