Posted by TerryS (198.133.22.93) on March 14, 2001 at 00:22:54:
A HEALTHY DOSE OF LAUGHTER
I read that a child laughs 400 times a day on the average, while
an adult laughs only 15 times each day. Which is puzzling since
laughter feels so good and is so good for us!
You may know the benefits of laughter on the mind and spirit, but
are you aware of how much a good laugh can help you physically?
Norman Cousins used to say that laughter is so beneficial for
your body that it is like "inner jogging."
Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic Health Letter, March 1993) reports that
laughter aids breathing by disrupting your normal respiration
pattern and increasing your breathing rate. It can even help
clear mucus from your lungs.
Laughter is also good for your heart. It increases circulation
and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues
throughout your body.
A good laugh helps your immune system fight off colds, flu and
sinus problems by increasing the concentration of immunoglobulin
A in your saliva. And it may help control pain by raising the
levels of certain brain chemicals (endorphins).
Furthermore, it is a natural stress reliever. Have you ever
laughed so hard that you doubled over, fell off your chair, spit
out your food or wet your pants? You cannot maintain muscle
tension when you are laughing!
The good news is that you are allowed more than 15 laughs a day!
Go ahead and double the dose and make it 30 times today. (You may
begin to notice immediate improvement in your relationships!)
Then double it again! You are bound to feel better, you will cope
with problems more effectively and people will enjoy being around
you.
Laughter: it’s just good medicine!
From Steve Goodier's