Many people don’t know the scientific reasons as to why laughter is so good for us.  A study done at the University of Maryland Medical Center showed that laughing relaxes the body and reduces the risks of high blood pressure, stroke, arthritis and ulcers.  The Medical Center suggests that a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh at stressful situations helps mitigate the damage and physical effect of distressing emotions.

One of the scientific findings behind laughter is its ability to increase our production of endorphins, which are natural opiates to the brain that make us feel good.  Laughter also serves as a healthy way to relieve tension, help manage pain and act as distracters.  In fact, joy and sadness pathways in the brain cannot operate simultaneously.  Therefore, if your brain perceives laughter, it literally cannot be sad.  Aside from the mental benefits of laughing, there are a number of recent medical findings confirming the need for a good laugh.  First laughing increases the number of disease fighting immune cells and boosts the functions to the immune system.  It massages internal organs and muscles, including the diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart, lungs and liver and stimulates digestion.  It has been said that laughter is a form of internal jogging.  Perhaps most amazing is that studies have shown that a 4 year old laughs over 200 times a day while a 40 year old only laughs 8.  Hmm, maybe we’re taking ourselves way too seriously?  So, laugh a little today and you’ll feel a little better.

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