Laugh and the world laughs with you. Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Even if it feels forced at first, practice laughing. It does your body good. Consider trying laughter yoga. In laughter yoga, people practice laughter as a group. Laughter is forced at first, but it can soon turn into spontaneous laughter.
Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.
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Sarcastic or other kinds of unfriendly or hostile laughter are a different story. At the University of Texas, Austin, researchers asked 17 healthy adults to watch a humorous minute video of their choosing or a documentary, with before and after tests of blood flow.
The biggest differences between the two groups were in measures of artery function a test called flow-mediated dilation and flexibility the carotid artery augmentation index. These improved immediately in the volunteers who watched a comedy and stayed that way for almost 24 hours. In those who watched a documentary, though, artery function decreased a bit. This study builds on work done by cardiologist Michael Miller and his colleagues at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
They have demonstrated similar improvements in artery function after laughing at a comedy. Why this happens is all speculation. Miller and William Fry, a psychiatrist at Stanford University School of Medicine who began studying the effects of laughter on the cardiovascular system in the s, hypothesize that brain chemicals called endorphins, which are released during mirthful laughter, latch onto opiate receptors in the lining of blood vessels.
This interaction stimulates blood vessels to release nitric oxide, a molecule known to relax arteries. Relaxed arteries are more flexible and wider, permitting easier blood flow. And a laughter prescription might not be as much fun as it sounds. Instead, enjoy laughter when it comes and bless it as another thread in the web of connections that help keep us happy and healthy.
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Great read, just affirms that laughter is an amazing medicine! It has been often said that laughter is the best medicine. The same way that depressing news depresses us, laughter makes us happy.
It also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Laughter helps:. It quickly brings you back into balance by relaxing the whole body and triggering the release of endorphins. They promote a sense of well-being and can temporarily relieve pain. It also protects your heart by:. When the stress of the holiday season seems overwhelming, remember that something as simple as laughter can relieve tension, enhance relationships, and make the holidays a more enjoyable time for you and your loved ones.
Schedule a check-up and get your cholesterol tested to monitor your heart health.
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