Humor And Laughter

Improve Health

"A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast." Groucho Marx

Stress has been shown to create unhealthy physiological changes.

The connection between stress and high blood pressure, muscle tension, suppression of the immune system and many other changes has been recognized for years.

We now have proof that laughter creates the opposite effects. It appears to be the perfect antidote for stress

Dr. Bernie Siegel has been reminding us for years that emotional factors can play an important role in battling disease, and a growing body of evidence from the new field of medical research called "psychoneuroimmunology" confirms this view.

By sustaining a more positive mood, and reducing the amount of time spent in a state of anger, anxiety, or depression, you are playing an active role in mobilizing your body's own health and healing resources.

Your emotional state begins working for your health, rather than against it.

Laughter has been shown to lower the level of stress hormones (epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone) in the blood, (temporarily) lower blood pressure, and reduce pain.

People using a biofeedback machine were able to relax muscles more quickly after watching funny cartoons. You can experience this effect in your own laughter. The next time you have a good long laugh, look for this feeling of relaxation and reduced tension.

There is no longer any doubt that your daily mood or frame of mind makes a significant contribution to your health--especially when you continue being relaxed day after day, year after year.

Anything you do to maintain a more positive frame of mind contributes to your physical health and helps you cope with stress.

Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.