How to Use Laughter for Health Benefits
May 25, 2009
Have you ever sensed that the best things in life come for free? So why not laugh out loud at times which won’t cost you a penny but gets you the most effective wonder drug a tranquilizer with no side effects. Laughter is a way of releasing the tension of the brain. It expels the residual air from our lungs and at that moment the heart starts beating at faster pace and again gradually slows down once a laugh is over. Scientifically, laughter is the biological reaction of humans to an outward expression of amusement.
Laughter is Contagious
It’s a common phenomenon that we start laughing when people around us laugh. Yes, laughter is contagious. Why so? It is because when someone smiles, a strong response triggers the brain, as if preparing the facial muscles to laugh. The brain responds greater for positive sounds like laughter than negative sounds. In fact, the increasing TRPs of the comedy serials prove that all human beings, by and large, want to laugh. Another interesting phenomenon is that there are gender differences in the amount of laughter too; females are found to laugh more often than males. Observation asserts that female speakers laugh 127% more than their male audiences. However, male speakers laugh about 7% less than the female audience.
Laughter as Therapy
From the studies one can fathom that humor and laughter are associated with increased positive effects and improved mood. Both humor and laughter are now being utilized as therapy. Research says that humor boosts the power of motivation, improves pain intolerance, and allays pain. To put in a nutshell, it is the key to improve one’s sense of well-being.
Health Benefits
The health benefits that one can derive from laughter are limitless. It is known for lowering of blood pressure and glucose level of blood. Humor has been extensively beneficial to arthritis and cancer patients. Both these types of patients undergo tremendous level of pain and illness. However, laughter therapy for these patients triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Other advantages include activation of immune system, decreasing “stress” hormones. Humor is being incorporated into the workplace too where managers learning the advantages of using humor. Happier, healthier employee work well as laughter enhances creativity.
Observing the boon of humor, the philosophers have correctly mentioned that the most wasted of all days is one without laughter. So, if taking vitamins does not keep you healthy enough, try more laughter. To end on a happy note, go get a hearty laugh, go get the instant vacation.
laughter is a good remedies for heart patients, within limit. one could be so assured to get laughter excercise daily for effective functioning of the heart.
I can say that “Laughter is the best medicine..”