The benefits of laughing are well known. It can help to lower blood pressure and lower the levels of cortisol. It has also been shown to reduce stress levels, and it can have therapeutic effects on the immune system. But did you know that laughter can also lead to better physical health? Not only does it reduce stress, but it can make you healthier in other ways.
Laughter is a form of physical activity. There is no doubt that when we laugh, our body experiences exercise. When we laugh, the muscles in our body are stretched and pulled. This kind of physical activity is good for our bodies because it helps to build the strength of our muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
The next benefit of laughter is related to our immune system. When we laugh, the immune system fights off a virus or bacteria that have entered our body. Some people joke that they have to keep laughing in order to remain healthy. Whether or not this is true is debatable, but it is a well-known fact that people who laugh often tend to be healthier and live longer.
Another good benefit of laughter is related to sleep. Laughter is a natural relaxation mechanism. Studies have shown that people who laugh before going to bed improve their ability to get a good night's rest. In addition to improving sleep quality, the act of laughing releases endorphins - hormone like substances that give us a sense of euphoria and other positive feelings.
Another physiological effect of laughter is related to weight gain. Some people believe that the act of laughing when dealing with stress causes the body to release more fat. That may be true, but another benefit of laughter is that it releases endorphins, so losing weight is not always a bad thing.
One other physiological effect of laughter is related to sexual dysfunction. Research has shown that men who are unable to have erections due to psychological reasons do report increased levels of laughter as an effective factor. Additionally, men who report greater sexual pleasure as a result of their increased laughter also report less stress. This would seem to indicate that the act of laughter can have beneficial effects on our sexuality. But is it only sexuality?
The truth is that laughter does more than benefit our physical well being. Laughter has been shown to have beneficial effects on our mental, emotional and spiritual state. It seems that the act of laughing alone can reduce our stress levels by a measurable percentage. The effects are comparable to reducing stress by twenty percent!
Physical problems like anxiety and insomnia can be reduced by laughter. Those suffering from heart disease can lower their risk of having a heart attack by up to forty percent. Laughter also seems to relieve the symptoms of depression, especially when taken prior to a major depressive episode. There is no question that laughter is good for your physically and mentally.
How do you begin practicing this? One of the best methods of starting to enjoy the mental and emotional benefits of increased laughter is to participate in regular exercise. This alone will help to significantly reduce your stress levels. The best type of exercise to engage in is aerobic exercise. This form of exercise is very effective at helping to relax the muscles, improve blood circulation to the body and help you to maintain a level head.
You can practice this by taking a stroll around your block or in a quiet place away from the commotion of the neighborhood. Some forms of exercise that you can do without using any noise or sound are pushups, sit-ups, jumping jacks and bicycle crunches. These types of exercises help you strengthen your muscles, improve your stamina and help you become more aware of how your body feels. These types of exercises are excellent forms of laughter exercises.
Laughing is great because it reduces stress and anxiety. When you regularly participate in a routine of laughter you will notice an overall reduction in stress, tension, blood pressure and tension. These are all good things that should be a part of your daily life. This goes hand in hand with other stress reducing techniques like eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and avoiding the common things that cause stress like too much television, caffeine and so forth.
It doesn't matter why you like to laugh or what your reason is. When you feel good about yourself you tend to look better around others and this will have a positive impact on their moods also. Laughing helps you relax. It allows you to release negative energy and deal with stressful situations differently. Laughing also helps to build your immune system and gives your body a break from the constant bombardment of stress that we all get every day. All of these things lead to a happier, healthier and longer life