Health Feature Articles
Laughter is good medicine
By Kris Jenkins, HES Specialist, Bates County, University of Missouri Extension
In a recent business magazine article, a top executive
was quoted, “Laughter in the work place is a waste of
time. This is a place to do business, not indulge in the
luxury of humor.”
Some researchers, however, would beg to differ with
his somber opinion. According to Kris Jenkins, HES
Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, “Research
has shown that laughter is essential to your well-being
and confirms that insufficient laughter could be
hazardous to your health.” As scientists have learned
more about the brain, they’ve discovered that smiles and
laughter stimulate the brain to secrete chemicals,
including endorphins, which seem to stimulate healing,
increase happiness and reduce pain.
Why do you need laughter in your life? “Laughter is a
powerful tool for your health. It can provide muscle
relaxation, release from anger and fear, stress
reduction, prevention of heart disease, reduction in
headaches and anxiety, and much needed socialization,”
said Jenkins.
Considerable research has been conducted on the
medical affects of laughter. In a series of studies at
Loma Linda University in California, people exposed to
regular doses of humor showed a significant increase in
their immune system (the system that fights off disease
and infection). While stress can weaken immune systems,
humor can help strengthen them.
Do you need more humor in your life? Jenkins suggests
that you add these tried and true humor tips to your
life:
- Seek out humor. Do certain friends or family make you laugh? Find reasons to be around them.
- Surround yourself with humor. Post cartoons around the house to remind you that humor helps.
- Laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten your attitudes about yourself and your anxieties will become lighter too.
- Don’t worry or analyze why people laugh—just appreciate. Think funny. Look for the humorous side of an otherwise difficult situation.
- Prepare a first-aid laughter kit. This could include books, cartoons, CD’s or videos, memorabilia, etc. Make laughter last. Write down the amusing things that happen and save them for a sad day.
- Be open to silly things. Humor the child within yourself.
- Laugh with others for what they do rather than for what they are.
Humorist, Bennett Cerf believed that humor is
nonsensical and individual and exists only in the mind.
As he said,” Humor is like bad taste in clothing—there
is no accounting for it.”
Research has proven that laughter is indeed good medicine so, make time for humor today.
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Last Updated 05/05/2009
