Humor and Health

Many researchers consider Laughter "the Best medicine"

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

How do you laugh?
Do you chuckle, chortle, giggle, guffaw, hoot or holler? Maybe you throw your head back and give a great big belly laugh. Perhaps you cover your mouth and laugh silently. Or, you might be one of those people whose distinctive laugh fills the room - and is noticed by everyone.

No matter how you laugh, one thing is certain - it makes you feel good. But does it actually improve your health?

Researchers from the University of Maryland set out to discover just that in a recent study. Volunteers in the study were shown two movie clips - a violent battle scene on one day and a comedic scene on another day. After watching the violent movie clip, 70% of the participants experienced constricted blood fl ow in their arteries. After watching the comedy, 95% of the same participants experienced increased blood flow.

Because the amount of laughter involved wasn't tracked, researchers don't know for sure that it was laughter itself that caused the positive results. They concede that it could simply be the act of relaxing and engaging in a stress-free activity. But they suspect that laughter releases endorphins - feel good agents - that in turn counteract the effects of stress. This could be what resulted in the increased blood flow.

In addition to increasing blood flow and reducing stress, laughter has also been reported to help boost the immune system and help with pain relief. And humor is increasingly being used in schools, hospitals and the workplace.

But you don't have to be a scientist to know that laughing makes you feel good!

Get your daily dose of laughter
If you don't get enough laughter in your daily life, here are some ways to take it up a notch:

• Visit a comedy club - look in the phone book or online for a local comedy club; invite some friends to join you in a night of good fun.
• Watch a funny movie - we all have favorite comedies; pop in a funny movie for two hours of mirth. If you don't have movies at home, rent one from a video store or check out one from the library. Or, take a trip to the nearest cineplex.
• Get a book of jokes - there are a multitude of joke books available at bookstores and in libraries. Check one out and get your belly laugh going.
• Read the Sunday comics - look in your local Sunday paper for the funnies; there is bound to be at least one comic strip that will tickle your funny bone.

Thanks
  
French Montreville
fmontreville@yahoo.com
1-617-487-4340
http://www.myempoweringteam.ws/
French S. Montreville, Independent TriVita Business Affiliate, Trivita ID# 13011183