| LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE
What if there was something that could lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system, and perhaps help you sleep better? What if it were available for free? That is what laughter, mirth, and merriment are supposed to do to your body. Investigative reports from various universities in the United States have documented the positive effects of laughter and a happy state of mind on the general well being of a person. In one study where people were divided into two groups, one who watched a comedy show and another who did not, the investigators found a difference in some of the blood cells of the people who had a good time watching the show. In this group the quantity of T cells (that fight infection), natural killer cells (that attack tumors and bacteria), IGA antibodies (that protect the respiratory tract), and alpha interferon (an immune system booster), were all elevated and the levels of cortisol which suppresses the immune system were decreased. The investigators concluded that this difference might indicate that a relaxed state of mental well being could help fight infections. It has also been shown that laughter and other enjoyable feelings can stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain which in turn boost the immune system. In separate studies, antibody levels against cold and flu viruses were in greater quantity and lasted longer in people who involved themselves in activities, such as positive social interactions like getting together with friends or enjoying a day out with their children. A study from the university of Akron in Ohio involved senior citizens who had outlived their siblings by an average of seven years. These individuals rated their sense of humor as being higher than their deceased siblings. It is a well known fact that people who have an upbeat outlook on themselves and their predicament seem to do better in fighting illnesses (and recovering faster, if they do become ill). Pets have also been shown to have a positive influence in this regard. In some countries there are "laughter clubs" which converge in the morning and instead of doing conventional exercise actually indulge in group laughter (including a warm up and a cool down period!). Laughter might mean more than good times: it might mean good health. |
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