Laughing makes you feel good, but did you know it’s also beneficial to your overall health? According to the Mayo Clinic, this emotion, which works so many organs within the body, increases a host of positive things – both short-term and long-term – for your well-being.
Laughter is an emotion that makes us feel happy. When we’re happy, we feel a sense of contentment. Stress and negative feelings subside as we laugh in many forms, be it a giggle, chuckle, or full on belly laugh. These laughing variations are great for overall health in our daily lives.
Short-Term Benefits
Organ Stimulation: Laughing stimulates organs by enhancing intake of oxygen-rich air. It stimulates the heart, lungs and various muscles. Additionally, the brain releases more endorphins as you laugh.
Reduces Stress: It relieves your response to stress as a good laugh ups and cools down your response. At the same time your blood pressure and heart rate increase, which combined with the response mechanisms, actually give you a calm, relaxed feeling.
Decreases Tension and Stomach Aches: Laughter stimulates circulation within the body as well as ease digestion. By circulation being stimulated, some physical symptoms of stress are alleviated.
Long-Term Benefits
Improves Immune System – Laughing is beneficial to health when it comes to the immune system. Negative thoughts advance into chemical reactions that impact your body by lowering your immunity. Positive thoughts have just the opposite effect in how they counteract the negative. Positive thoughts release neuropeptides that assist in fighting stress and serious illnesses which could potentially manifest.
Pain Relief – Laughter is known to ease pain by causing the body to produce its own brand of natural painkillers.
Coping Mechanism – Laughing can be a great coping strategy in challenging situations. Besides being great for your overall health, laughter makes difficult situations a little easier.
No matter how your day is going or what is keeping you down, look for the smallest of things to make you laugh. It pays to be easily amused! Notice what brings a smile to your face, or what you find hilariously funny in comedies and jokes. Discover ways to bring laughter into your life more often. The health benefits of laughter is one of the best medicines you can take. A good sense of humor goes a long ways in your well-being.
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Source:
MayoClinic.com
