Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter

Have you heard about laughter therapy?

Laughing makes life fun and enjoyable. Laughing is good no matter where it occurs. Laughter is also very important for good health.

I like to share with you a recent article I found from The article was entitled Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter. Laughter activates the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones.

Below is a summary of the contributions to good health created by humor.

- Belly laugh results in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

- Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.

- Humor allows a person to “forget” about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc.

- A belly laugh is equivalent to “an internal jogging.” Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.

- Women seem to benefit more than men in preventing hypertension.

- Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patient’s who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

To find out more about the therapeutic effects of laughter, please please read Paul McGhee’s article,