You will often hear that laughter is the best medicine, but why do people say this? Most of us try to do our best to make sure that we laugh as much as possible every day, because we just know that it makes us feel good – but what are the actual benefits of laughing? How can we improve our lives by including more laughter, and has anything been proven to show that laughing is good for our physical and mental health?
Personally, laughing for me is a form of therapy. I love that feeling where you’re laughing so much that you literally fall off your seat. Also, when you simply cannot stop laughing and fail to get your words out. It elevates your mood instantly and raises your vibration, which allows more goodness to flow to you. Despite my passion for laughing, there are actually a number of proven reasons as to why laughing can improve our lives. Here are 5 benefits of laughing:
1. Laughing can lower your blood pressure
Having a high blood pressure can be dangerous in your daily life. Although a high blood pressure is a problem that is most commonly associated with the elderly, you should be careful with it whatever your age, because having a high blood pressure puts you at a higher risk of developing certain health conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. It has been proven, however, that laughter can affect your blood pressure in a positive way, causing it to lower to healthier and more manageable levels. Even if you don’t have a medically diagnosed problem with your blood pressure, it is always something that is worth thinking about, as it is the type of thing that may become a problem at some point in the future. So, if you want to be able to lower your blood pressure naturally, and avoid having to rely on medication in later life, then simply have a good laugh, and you should find that it has excellent effects on this particular aspect of your health.
2. If you laugh, your stress levels are much lower
Nothing is worse than feeling stressed, and such feelings can make you think that things are getting on top of you all of the time, without any way for you to cope with everything that is going on around you. If this is something that you feel that you struggle with in your own life, then the great news is that laughing can help to take some of this stress away from you. There has been a large amount of scientific research undertaken into this issue, and many have found that, indeed, being able to laugh a little does reduce levels of cortisol in the blood stream – which is the hormone that is directly responsible for the stress response in the human body that can result in things like a high heart rate and even panic attacks if it gets too out of control. If the levels of cortisol are allowed to drop, then you will notice an improvement in your stress symptoms, and are much less likely to suffer any other effects of stress. It can be amazing just how many symptoms, both physical and mental, are due to stress – and you may not even notice that you’d been having them until they start to improve. So, if you know that you’re the type of person who suffers from stress at challenging times, then it is a great idea to try and get some laughter in your life, whether that is by going out with a friend who has a great sense of humour, or watching a comedy film.
3. Laughing is like a mini workout
You hear it wherever we go – as a nation, we’re nowhere near as active as we should be, and as a result of this we’re not getting anywhere near the amount of exercise that we need to stay fit and healthy. The great news is that we don’t need to be running marathons on a daily basis in order to stay fit, and little things such as laughing can help. When you laugh, it makes your heart pump a little bit faster, which means that the calories you could burn may not be too far off that of a leisurely stroll. Not only this, but the muscles in your abdomen will also be given a bit of a workout, so if you have always fancied having a six pack, then this could be a great way to start. Of course, you’re never going to be able to get the body of your dreams just from having a good laugh, but it is a great place to begin, and can certainly help a lot.
4. Boosts your immune system
If you find that you’re unwell more often than usual, for example if you never manage to get through the winter without catching a cold, then you may find that your immune system isn’t as strong as others around you. Being ill can take days away from us when we could be doing important things, so it is vital that you try to take care of yourself in the best way that you possibly can. There are many little things that you can do to help with this, and surprisingly, it has been found in studies that those people who laugh tend to have a more effective and stronger immune system than those who don’t. So, by simply trying to take the time to allow a little more laughter into your life, you should find that you become ill less often, and that the duration and severity of your illnesses aren’t as great when you do suffer from them.
5. You can make other people around you feel great
You probably already know just how great it can feel when you can have a laugh with a friend or somebody in your family. If you’re in a bad mood, then laughing with somebody can be a lot of fun; so by just making a few jokes around friends who are feeling a little low, you can help them to feel much better about life. Making others feel great is one of the most satisfying feelings we experience in life.
“Laughter heals all wounds, and that’s one thing that everybody shares. No matter what you’re going through, it makes you forget about your problems. I think the world should keep laughing.” – Kevin Hart
When you think about just how much you can get from laughing, it seems obvious that you should try to do as much of it as you possibly can. Considering the fact that there are so many benefits, you have the perfect excuse to have a good laugh – so spend time with people who’s company you enjoy, and laugh your worries away!
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Author: Vex King
I am the founder and owner of the Bon Vita lifestyle brand. I could give myself a title and call myself a lifestyle entrepreneur, personal mentor, writer, designer, innovator, CEO, or anything else I see as fitting. However no title can define me as an individual. I’m just an optimist, a visionary, a philanthropist and jack of many trades. I’m using my positive influence to redefine the creative industries using Good Vibes Only #GVO so that people can fulfil their dreams, purposefully, and enjoy The Good Life #TGL. My daily words of intent are to make people… Think, look & feel GOOD!
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