By definition is: to show emotion with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound. It’s one of the most underrated health tips out there!
Did you know that according to the Mayo Clinc laughing can provide both short term and long term benefits.
Short-term benefits:
When you laugh, it’s more than just enjoyable, as the activity of laughing induces physical changes in your body:
- Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
- Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
- Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term benefits:
Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:
- Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
- Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
- Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
- Improve your mood. Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter” – EE Cummings
We challenge you to laugh more today and every day, you won’t regret it!
