Anxiety and Stress Are No Match for a Good Laugh

Anxiety and Stress Are No Match for a Good Laugh
Whether you’re stressed about a deal at work, anxious about an upcoming meeting with a client, or just feeling under the weather, laughter can be the best medicine.
But why? What really happens that makes laughing so beneficial? Doctors and scientists have some ideas about the benefits of laugher:
Stress—There’s actually a physical reason that laughter reduces stress. In addition to being a great emotional release, laughter reduces the number of stress hormones (such as cortisol and epinephrine) in your body and helps boost good hormones like endorphins.
Blood Flow—Scientists have found that blood vessels function healthily when people watch comedies, which means they expand and contract more easily and help blood flow normally. This is in stark contrast to the tightened blood vessels that were found in people after watching a drama. In short, laughter improves blood flow, which helps prevent heart attack and heart disease.
Cholesterol Levels—Recently, researchers have found that people with Type 2 Diabetes who watched funny videos for at least 30 minutes each day had better “good cholesterol” levels after just two months.
Heart and Abs—It turns out that laughing is a lot like exercising. A good laugh can increase your heart rate, exercise your diaphragm, and even contract your stomach muscles.
Calories—With the similarities between laughter and exercise, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that laughing helps you burn calories. In fact, one study found that 50 calories are burned in 10 to 15 minutes of laughter.
Immune System—There’s also evidence that laughter helps boost antibodies, making your system better prepared to fight viruses. So, a little laughter not only makes you feel better in the short term, but also can help you remain healthier in the long term.
In addition to all of these physical reactions and benefits, laughing is beneficial for your mental health too. It’s a great anti-depressant… not to mention a great way to interact with friends, family, and even clients while you strengthen your social relationships.