Ten Reasons That Laughter Promotes Good Health

Laughter promotes good health.

There is nothing like humor to lighten up a tense situation.  I’ve always been glad to have someone on my team who sees what is funny about a situation and comments in a way that makes us all laugh.  Now that I know that laughter promotes good health I plan to laugh more!  What about you?

1.   Laughter reduces stress hormone levels so you feel less stressed.

2.   Laughter enhances your immunity by improving your mood.  Your immune system is stronger on your “up” days and you are less prone to upper respiratory infections.

3.   Laughter causes you to breathe more fully, bringing in more oxygen and releasing toxins.

4.   After a good laugh, your blood pressure drops, heart rate and breathing slow down and muscle tension decreases.

5.   Humor helps you find joy in life, even in stressful times

6.   Laughter increases productivity and creativity.

7.   Laughter helps your muscles to relax. This natural relaxation effect not only helps to reduce stress but it also has been shown to alleviate heart disease, headaches, chronic anxiety, and other problems.

8.   Laughter alleviates pain in the chronically ill.  Norman Cousins in his book Head First: The Biology of Hope noticed that 10 minutes of belly laughter often gave him 2 hours of pain-free sleep.

9.   A good belly laugh is cardiac exercise and is referred to by some as internal jogging!

10. Laughter can help to shorten a hospital stay.  Patients say that humor and shared laughter help to raise their spirits and take their minds off their illnesses.

Laughter feels good and it is good for you!  Having trouble finding the humor in a situation?  If laughter doesn’t come easy for you, it is time to hire a coach.  Call me 781-598-0388 or email me asparker@asparker.com.  My coaching will help you find the fun and joy in your life.

Some of this was from material found in Health, Healing and the Amuse System by Paul E. McGhee and Other parts were taken from Roundup a newsletter from Canyon Ranch, a health resort. http://www.canyonranch.com