Laughter – Key to Good Health

Did you know that children laugh about 400 times a day while the average adult only gives up about 25 chuckles a day? In a recent study, individuals watched a 30-minute segment of two different types of movies on different days. One movie was a “belly-laughing” comedy while the other was an intense war movie drama. Blood vessel reactivity was measured before and after watching the movie segments. On average, artery diameter increased by 22% during the funny movie and decreased by 35% while watching the stressful drama. Decreasing artery size is linked to heart attack and hypertension.

The positive magnitude of change seen in the blood vessels during laughter is like the benefits of an aerobic workout without the aches, pains and muscle tension associated with exercise. Any wellness goals that you set should not only include regular daily exercise but should also include at least 15 minutes of laughter every day. Laughter truly is the best medicine for your health. So, lighten up and laugh!