Laughter is more than just an enjoyable activity. It is very beneficial to the mind, body and soul. If stress is taking over your life, you feel unhealthy or you just want some relief…LAUGH and the best thing of all laughing is contagious so pass it on!!

Laughter has many benefits, which in turn have positive effects on the body.  A good hearty laugh gives your diaphragm, abdominal and facial muscles a complete workout. It releases anxiety, aggression, fear and anger because it is your body’s built in stress releaser.

A good laugh can help…..

• Lower blood pressure as it relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis, and ulcers. 
• Strengthen the immune system as laughter helps the immune system do its job properly.  It increases the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and a variety of both tumour and cancer cells.
• Reduce stress. A number of hormones in the body are activated when the body is under a lot of stress.  These hormones cause blood vessels to constrict in response to stress as well as begin to suppress the activity of the immune system.  Laughter reduces some of these stress hormones.
• Good for the Respiratory System.  Respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and frequent head colds are warded off easier by frequent laughter as it increases the concentration of immunoglobulin A in saliva.  It also increases your body’s ability to utilize oxygen and causes cleansing of the lungs that can also help with emphysema and sinus problems.
• Good for the heart  It increases circulation and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body.  A good laugh is thought of as exercise for the heart and is often likened to “internal jogging”.  It helps strengthen the heart and is particularly good for those who are not able to get around or do other kinds of cardiac exercise on a regular basis.
• Controls Pain  Laughter plays a tremendous role in controlling pain as well as the fact it raises the level of certain brain chemicals, in particular, endorphins (which are the body’s natural painkillers). 
• Increases oxygen in the blood, which also encourages healing. 

It can also …

Lighten Depression

• Improve brain functioning
• Protect the heart
• Relaxes the body instantly
• Make you feel good
• Increase muscle flexion
• Helpful for breathing 

You need to develop your sense of humour by spending time looking for silly activities that are going on around you.  You need to remind yourself to have fun.  If you hear a joke you really like, write it down.  Mix with a funny friend more.  Watch a funny film, Read the comic strips in the paper or read one of the funny forwards that your friends send you by email (infact I put the best ones in a folder and look at them now and again).  Get a joke book, watch a comedy, read an amusing book.  Visit a Comedy Club for a great night out!

How often do you laugh? – Think about it and try to include it in your daily life more.