Laughter as a therapy

Laugh as a therapy?

Read the magazine, READER's DIGEST and you will find a chapter called Laughter is the best Medicine. Are they true. Well check this out
Laughter's benefits on your health are no joke. Yes the they cannot cure all ailments but certainly data collected suggested how much laugh can do.

BENEFITS as suggested.

1. A good laugh obviously indicates how good we feel at that moment. Data shows it actually induces physical changes.
2. Stimulate your organs. Laughter increases oxygen-rich air intake, stimulates your cardio and lung, and definitely increases the endorphins that are released by your brain. A hormone which induces a lot of positive effect on our body.
3. Activate your stress response. A laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
4. Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter may ease up digestion and stimulate circulation and that helps reduce the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term BENEFITSLaughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. In fact, in one study, people with cancer who watched a humorous video showed less stress and an increase in a particular cell activity that's beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer.
• Relieve pain. Research increasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier. One study of nurses who work in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor in dealing with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction and feelings of personal accomplishment than do those who remain dour during their shifts.
  

Well do you still think Laughter is the best medicine ?

Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.

Source www.mayoclinic.com