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Laughter is Indeed the Best Medicine for Wellness

Laughter is, and will always be the best form of therapy. 

” Laughter is an instant vacation.”-Milton Berle

In a world filled with problems, laughter can be a rare opportunity for most individuals. Several outside factors can affect our mood, which in turn can affect our biological reactions. Laughter is a physical reaction that causes audible contractions of the diaphragm, thus creating a distinct sound. It a neurological reaction by releasing endorphins which are called the happy hormone. A variety of conditions causes this reaction such as tickling, telling a joke, or sharing stories. 

According to a study in 2017, laughter therapy promotes the psychological well-being of volunteer community care workers working with HIV-affected families. This study proved that laughter is indeed more than just an emotion and can be useful as a therapy for diseases. 

Benefits of Laughter:

  1. Laughter can help burn calories- study shows that laughing for around 10-15 minutes a day can burn up to 40 calories. 
  2. Laughter brings up the mood level- release of endorphins or the happy hormone causes the body to improve well-being and temporarily relieve pain.
  3. Laughter relieves stress. Decrease of stress hormones increases the immune system and antibodies. 
  4. Laughter helps the cardiovascular system. It can improve the function of blood vessels by increasing the blood flow, which prevents cardiovascular diseases. 
  5. Laughter can help increase the lifespan. A study in Norway proved that people laugh tend to outlive those who don’t laugh as much. This study demonstrated the theory through patients going through cancer. 

FURTHER READING

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5706473/

https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/how-laughter-will-change-your-life.aspx