A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

“A laugh a day keeps the doctor away!” You probably have never heard that before. But, recent studies are showing that this may be true. Here are ten ways that laughing can improve your health.

1. Energetic laughter increases your heart rate, causes you to breath harder , and uses muscles all over our bodies.

2. Laughter can reduce stress and pain, help fight infection, and improves our mood. 

3. The levels of two stress hormones will drop after laughter.

4. Laughing releases endorphins, an chemical that makes our body happy. 

5. Laughter releases guilt, fear, anxiety, and tension. 

6. Laughter makes us more optimistic. 

7. Higher levels of antibodies were found in the saliva of people who watched humorous videos. 

8. Researchers found that white blood cells were more active in the bodies of people watching humorous movies. 

9. In the 1998 movie Patch Adams, a doctor convinced others that laughter, fun, and play increased the recovery rate of patients. This was based on a true story.

10. Planning fun activities for the future reduces stress hormones.