Laughter…

In an over-medicated, quick-to-prescribe-pills world that we live in, sometimes the most simple and natural approach can be the best solution for what ails a person. We get so caught up in the numbers and stats that oversight becomes inevitable; the byproduct being side affects which lead us to believe that the next pill will somehow magically become the smoking bullet, the pill to end all pills.

And while all of this scrambling progress leaves us convinced that we are indeed moving forward, there lies an answer that is easy, free, tried and true. It's the healing power of laughter (University of Maryland Medical Center):

Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a recent study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease."

So what is it about laughter that seems to heal us in a way that pills simply cannot? (Web MD):

We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.

People who believe in the benefits of laughter say it can be like a mild workout — and may offer some of the same advantages as a workout."

Scientific studies aside, just think about how you feel when you are laughing. You feel light, healthy, care-free. And more importantly, if you're laughing you are definitely not feeling stressed out, depressed, and unhealthy. The Web MD article goes on to explain how laughing increases/improves the following:

1. Blood Flow
   
2. Immune Response
   
3. Blood Sugar Levels (lowered)
   
4. Relaxation and Sleep
   

So if you've had a bad day and you're trying to figure out what to watch on your Tivo, pick the comedy and do something good for your body!

Til next time…