Laugh Your Health Troubles Away, Literally!
After a long and stressful day, the last thing you want to do is laugh. Instead, you might want to stuff your face with chocolate and sleep in. Laughter really is the best medicine for so many areas of our health. Here are some fun and science-backed facts about laughing that will leave you wanting a good chuckle.
Laughing Boosts Your Immune System
Those who learn to use laughing as a stress management tool reap many health benefits, such as a stronger immune system. They also have a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke and are reported to live longer. Another unexpected perk – less pain during dental work. So next time you want to bury your head in the middle of a stressful work day, try hopping on Youtube during your lunch hour for funny videos instead.
Laugh Yourself to Better Relationships
Being in a relationship can take a lot of work. When your love life is not healthy, it can challenge other areas of your mental and physical health. Couples who laughed together and reminisced on past funny times frequently reported having a higher level of relationship satisfaction.
Better Pain Management
Researchers performed a cold presser task which involved individuals putting their hands in very cold water to determine their pain threshold and pain tolerance. Those that watched humorous videos before the test showed increased levels of pain tolerance and duration, compared to those that watched neutral or negative videos before the test. How can you apply this in your own life? Next time chronic pain is making you want to shut down, try laughing it up with a good friend or re-watching your favorite comedy.
Laughing and Better Grades
It is important to foster your child’s natural love to laugh and be playful. Studies have found that individuals who are playful have better academic performance. Furthermore, those that described themselves as playful were more likely to go above and beyond and do extra optional reading after the exam was through. Having a playful spirit can mean that you are more apt to do better academically.
When’s the last time you had a good laugh? Your day is already filled with so much stress and bad news, why not make it a priority to laugh today and often with friends and loved ones. Whenever a bad thought or negative feeling come creeping in, try to visualize something funny instead to combat the ill-effects of negativity.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Barney Moss