By Mark Underwood
posted
Nov 29, 2012
Laughing and telling jokes with friends is not just fun, it is
good for your brain health.
You've probably heard the old saying that you should laugh more
because laughter is the best medicine. Laughing is a good remedy
for many things in life-we all need humor and levity to combat
daily stresses. Laughing is not only a great release; it is
available to everyone, anywhere, anytime.
If you've wondered if laughter is good for your health, you're
not alone. Can laughter really have hidden benefits other than
simply being an automatic emotional response to seeing or hearing
something funny?
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) researchers say,
yes. They studied people who laugh every day, several times a day
to see if there was a connection between laugher and health
benefits.
What they found was that on a biological level laughing
introduces additional oxygen into the body. Lymph fluids are
circulated and increased levels of oxygen boost immune system
function. Laughing, in a sense, 'pumps' oxygen through vital organs
and tissues, which need the oxygen to repair damage, fight
infection and keep you feeling healthy.
People who laugh on a consistent basis tend to have lower blood
pressure than those who laugh occasionally. Many studies have
looked at the benefits of laughing and the heart. The UMMC was the
first research university to find a link between laugher and
lowering heart disease. They found people with heart disease
laughed, on average, 40 percent less than people of the same age
without heart disease.
Born to Laugh
Humans have a natural instinct for laughter. Babies usually
begin to laugh at four-months-old. It appears that laughter may be
one of the few universal traits found across human cultures.
Laughter is a universal language that humans share.
We know that adults are far less likely to laugh than children.
In fact, the average child laughs over 300 times a day, while the
typical adult only laughs 17 times a day.
Even worse is the fact that a majority of adults who report
laughing on a daily basis fall into the age range of 18 to
34.
Humor and laughter may also have powerful effects on memory, brain
health and aging. If the mental effects of laughter are as positive
as the physical, then it is time to learn a few new jokes, gather
some friends and start improving your brain health the easy way.
Make them laugh. Polish those punch lines and improve your brain
health.
A Universal Language
If you are an adult that doesn't laugh enough, then it's time to
start laughing and help your body feel better while having some
fun. According to a Stanford researcher, laughing is like jogging
while standing in place. Laughing is actually a physical
workout.
Remember the last time your stomach hurt from laughing too much.
You did a whole abdominal workout that was more fun than crunches
and sit-ups any day. One minute of laughter is equal to using a
rowing machine for ten minutes.
Use these tips to add more laughter in your life:
• Find humor in everyday things.
• Be a child again-find amusement in the most ordinary
things.
• Increase your exposure to comedy such as funny books, movies, and
live theater.
• Make sure you have funny friends.
• Take time each day to laugh.
• If you hear a joke that makes you laugh, remember it, chances are
it will make someone else laugh too!
Mark Underwood is a neuroscience researcher, president and
co-founder of Quincy Bioscience, a biotech company focused on
the discovery and development of medicines to treat age related
memory loss and the diseases of aging. Underwood is a published
author, with his latest article, "Effect of apoaequorin on
cognitive function" published in the peer-reviewed Alzheimer's
and Dementia, The Journal of the Alzheimer's
Association. He has been taped as an expert in the field of
neuroscience for The Wall Street Journal Morning Radio, CBS and CNN
Radio among others. More info
at www.TheGoodNewsAboutAging.com.
Tagged:
Benefits of Laughter
