Healthy Humor: Power Health Benefits of Humor
Posted on December 7, 2007
Filed Under Humor, Health
Laughter activates the chemistry of the will to live and increases our capacity to fight disease. Laughing relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis, and ulcers. Some research suggests that laughter may also reduce the risk of heart disease. Historically, research has shown that distressing emotions (depression, anger, anxiety, and stress) are all related to heart disease. A study done at the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh at stressful situations helps mitigate the damaging physical effects of distressing emotions.
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Humor changes our biochemical state.
and increases infection-fighting antibodies. It increases our attentiveness, heart rate, and pulse.
- Humor improves brain function and relieves stress.
Laughter stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning. It eases muscle tension and psychological stress, which keeps the brain alert and allows people to retain more information
- Humor help muscle relaxation
Research has shown that muscle relaxation results from a good belly laugh. One study even showed that people using a biofeedback apparatus were able to relax muscles more quickly after watching funny cartoons than after looking at beautiful scenery. You can see this effect in your own laughter, if you look for it. In my keynote addresses, I have a routine in which I get everyone in the room doing belly laughter for half a minute. Afterwards, I ask them what changes they notice in their bodies. The first comment is usually, “I feel a lot more relaxed.” The next time you have a good long laugh, look for this feeling of relaxation and reduced tension.
- Laughter lowers blood pressure.
People who laugh heartily on a regular basis have lower standing blood pressure than the average person. When people have a good laugh, initially the blood pressure increases, but then it decreases to levels below normal. Breathing then becomes deeper which sends oxygen enriched blood and nutrients throughout the body.
- Humor contribute to pain reduction
- Laughter protects the heart.
Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to the study at the University of Maryland Medical Center (cited above). 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.
- Humor helps us stay emotionally healthy
A healthy sense of humor is related to being able to laugh at oneself and one’s life. Laughing at oneself can be a way of accepting and respecting oneself. Lack of a sense of humor is directly related to lower self esteem. (Note that laughing at oneself can also be unhealthy if one laughs as a way of self-degradation.)
- Humor is good for the digestive system.
Perhaps it’s best to play out the reversal of that. Think about how your stomach and intestines react when you are stressed, nervous or angry.
- Humor reduces anger and anxiety.
You feel empowered , more in control of your emotions, it “lightens” the environment around you and increases productivity. Helpful in the workplace and at home.
- Laughter and humor are social characters.
They liked to be shared and are wonderfully addictive and contagious.
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