Benefits of Laughter - Slideshow

It's the Best Pill

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. - Irish Proverb

A good, real, unrestrained, hearty laugh is a sort of glorified internal massage, performed rapidly and automatically. It manipulates and revitalizes corners and unexplored crannies of the system that are unresponsive to most other exercise methods. - New York Tribune

What is Laughter?

Laughter is an outward display of an inner feeling of happiness

It is usually a response to external stimuli such as a joke, tickling, another person laughing etc. It's also great exercise - laughter yoga is a simple, easy and cost-effective way to health. Besides, you don't need to be trained to laugh!

What Makes us Laugh?

When we laugh, 15 facial muscles contract and the zygomatic major muscle is stimulated.

In the meantime, the epiglottis partly closes the larynx and air intake becomes irregular. A noise usually accompanies this struggle to get enough oxygen to enter the system - what we call a burst of laughter!

Health Benefits of Laughing-Physical

Laughter boosts immunity - Infection-fighting antibodies are released into the system

Laughter expands the blood vessels, enhancing blood flow to essential organs and keeping cardiovascular diseases at bay. Endorphins - our 'feel good' chemicals - are released. Not only does it de-stress you, it also helps relieve pain.

Health Benefits of Laughter-Physical

T-cells function better if you laugh often.

The body's level of stress hormones is reduced. Hormones like cortisol, dopamine and the growth hormone, which heighten stress levels, diminish. It's important workout for the muscles - a hearty, belly laugh actually exercises the shoulders, diaphragm, even the abs. Laughter relaxes these muscles. Laughter relieves anger, tension and hostility by over 80% Laughter can reduce heart attack risk by over 70%

Laughter Therapy

It has been medically proved that laughter actually speeds the body's recovery process.

Just like negative thoughts and unhappiness can make you fall sick, positive emotions can counter the effect and restore good health. Besides, endorphins are great pain relievers. Laughter lets them loose in your body. In fact, they work better than equal doses of morphine. Laughter therapy isn't complicated-just laugh away your blues and you'll be fine.

Social and Emotional Benefits of Laughter

Laughter is great at sealing relationships and making them last.

It's also an ice-breaker, and a good conversation starter. As stress levels take a beating, the quality of social interaction also increases. It eases your inhibitions and lets real emotions surface The biggest benefit - No side effects.

The Best Medicine-Laughter

Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit. - Anon.

Laughter is the language of God. And we can all live happily ever laughter - Yakov Smirnoff