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![Laughter as Medicine]()
Watching a funny movie or hearing a silly joke is sure to make you smile. But having a good hearty laugh can actually make you healthier from the inside out. Researchers think this free therapy could be the key to some serious medicine. It doesn't matter what gives you a giggle – the health benefits are all the same. Follow Dr. Cynara Coomer on Twitter!![Acts Like Exercise]()
The physical act of laughing kind of works like a light workout for your body. When you laugh, your face muscles stretch, your pulse increases and more oxygen is dispersed to your tissues because you start breathing faster. This isn’t an excuse to skip the gym, but laughing can get your heart rate pumping for sure. Any kind of exercise will benefit your overall well-being and reduce stress.![Natural Immune Booster]()
Getting a good giggle can also boost your immune system and help ward off colds. Low levels of stress and a powerful immune system go hand-in-hand. Studies have shown that infection-fighting antibodies soar in your system with the use of humor. That’s because, as I said, when you laugh you increase the oxygen being pumped into your body. The shaking and jiggling associated with laughing helps to clear waste from your organs. It also will help support your immune system.![Good For Your Heart]()
A recent study out of my alma mater, Loma Linda University in California, found after one year of watching funny TV shows patients had a 26 percent rise in their good cholesterol. This study also looked at people with diabetes, which can leave you at risk for heart diseases. These patients had lower stress levels and therefore less of a chance of having heart problems.![Mental Health Benefits]()
A positive attitude and a smile can do wonders when you’re in a bad mood. But even if a person suffers from more than just the blues, laughter can have many benefits for your brain. Laughter helps you buffer the negativity that might make you depressed. Endorphins are released every time you laugh – those are the chemicals that make you feel good. Endorphins give you an overall sense of well-being and reduce anxiety.![Pain Reliever]()
Numerous studies have found people who have chronic pain are less bothered by it when they're laughing. It could be that whatever is making them laugh is only a distraction but nonetheless it works. Laughter isn’t going to cure your chronic pain, but it can give you some much-needed relief. Follow Dr. Cynara Coomer on Twitter!Five Ways Laughing Can Heal
Did you know laughing can be good for your health? Here are five reasons why having a chuckle will make you healthier
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- Five Ways Laughing Can Heal
