With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many people are dealing with more stress than ever. If the rising cost of gas and the slowdown in the economy are taken into account, it is clear that the population is stressed. Growing data indicates that a good laugh may be the best way to combat stress. So head to your local comedy club or watch free comedy clips online for stress relief.
The health benefit of laughter is no joke and provides both long-term and short-term benefits. When you laugh, you not only lighten your mental load, you actually induce physical changes in your body.
Laughter improves the intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins released by the brain. A good laugh cools your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result is a good, relaxed feeling and lower stress rates. Laughter can also facilitate digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term benefits include an improved immune system. Negative thoughts manifest themselves in chemical reactions that can affect your body by putting more stress on your system and lowering your immunity. On the contrary, positive thoughts actually release neuropathies that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. A study of people with cancer who watched humorous videos showed less stress. and an increase in the activity of a particular cell that is beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer. Research increasingly shows that laughter can relieve pain by causing the body to produce its own natural pain relievers.
Laughter can also help make difficult situations a bit easier. A study of nurses working in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor to deal with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction. They also experienced feelings of personal accomplishment more than those who didn’t laugh during their shifts.
The facts are that laughter is good for you and it is also a lot of fun. So grab that funny movie or go to the comedy club or watch monologues online to enjoy the positive effects of humor on your body and mind.