LAUGH YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHIER LIFE

Thanks to post originator: Bette from smoke-free

The health benefits of laughter are no joking matter. More and more doctors are finding that laughter can actually aid the healing process. And, while few, if any doctors write prescriptions for laughter, you should consider adding a healthy dose of it to your life.

Benefits of Laughter

1. Increases heart rate and blood pressure, which increases blood circulation. Ever noticed how a merry person's eyes seem to sparkle. Increased blood circulation carries extra blood to the eyes, making them brighten. Laughter also stimulates the tear reflex which produces a film of moisture over the eyes, causing them to sparkle. Increased blood circulation stimulates your thinking, aids the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout your body and reduces the risk of blood clots, helping to prevent some types of heart attacks and strokes.
2. Relaxes and massages muscles. A few minutes of laughter can break the pain cycle, providing a few hours of relief to people with muscle disorders. Laughter relieves muscle tension that builds during the day. A hearty laugh also massages the diaphragm, thorax, stomach, heart, lungs and liver.
3. Reduces pain by increasing the productions of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. Endorphins help relieve inflammation.
4. Clears mucus from your lungs. This is especially helpful for people with chronic respiratory conditions, such as emphysema.
5. Increases antibodies and immune cells. Laughter also increases the production of Immunoglobulin A, which helps your immune system fight off colds, flu and sinus infections.
6. Relieves stress by reducing stress hormones.
7. Improves muscle tone. Laughing 100 times a day is about equal to ten minutes of rowing.

Laughter also works wonders on your mental health and helps build a good relationship at home and at work. A shared joke or even a smile can break down barriers between people, ward off depression and help people deal with difficult situations. On the job, laughter can enhance problem solving skills, increase motivation, improve morale and relieve tension and anxiety. Laugh with people, not at them. Humor that pokes fun at common problems brings people together. Find ways to bring happiness to your life and to other people. Big smiles, hearty hellos and thoughtful gifts work wonders. Sometimes, people don't laugh because they fell they need a reason to laugh. If you feel like laughing, laugh. After more than 2,500 years of debate, researchers still can't agree on what makes people laugh. Other people think they have to be emotionally happy to laugh. If you're not emotionally happy, you need to laugh more than ever. You may not feel great when you start laughing, but you'll feel much better afterwards. So when should you laugh. Any time you feel like it! If you think you need a laugh, you probably do. After working intensely for awhile, take a laugh or a smile break. You'll feel better and work better, too! While a little practice, you'll find plenty of fun, creative ways to add humor to your life and to the lives of others.

So go ahead, smile laugh, giggle, and grin---for the health of it!