The Best Free and Most Fun and Healthy Medicines: Humor and Laughter

April Fools' has passed. And it may have been one of the healthiest days of year.  Seriously.

You see, April Fools' is filled with pranks and tricks that induce a lot of humor and laughter, most of the time.  There are a few pranks or tricks that can cause anger or revenge, but all kidding aside most pranks and tricks cause biological, physiological reactions that cause an emotional, mental, physical and social outward expression of amusement, fun, joy and relaxation.  The truth- humor and laughter are medicine. And humor and laughter greatly benefit your health and well-being.

Do you know or remember what you laughed about on April Fools' or today?  Even better, who did you laugh with?  Most humor and laughter occur in groups or while spending time with family or friends.  Most people are in a good mood while hanging out and socializing  and often laugh and smile.  That is because humor, laughter and smiling are attractive behaviors and traits that add zest, connect people and groups and strengthen relationships, and recharge the body, mind and soul.  And most people, especially partners or spouses, family and friends, would prefer to be around you to enjoy in the fun and positive spirits of the best free and most fun and healthy medicines- Humor and Laughter.    

Humor and laughter are infectious.  According to my wife one of my greatest attributes is my laugh- big, contagious, heartfelt, infectious and loud. And most humor or laughter is. But why do not more people find humor in situations or things or laugh often?  On average, a child laughs near 300 times a day and an adult laughs near only 20 times.  Regarding that (300:20), you can only imagine the impact on health or think of what's missing in well-being if humor and laughter are proven to bring people together and build relationships and trust, improve brain function, increase the immune system and lower cardiovascular disease risk, lower pain, reduce stress, regenerate energy and stamina, and more.  The point is- the less free and fun humor and laughter there are in life there are greater incidences of cardiovascular and emotional or mental diseases and stress versus more humor and laughter and the prevalence of fewer burdens, greater hope and joy, more resilience and vitality, and an overall greater sense of well-being. 

  

Humor and Laughter: Gifts Of Health.

Humor and laughter are healthful and life-saving.  They are very effective and simple health boosters and stress-busters.  You see, when we experience a frightening or stressful event or stressor, certain chemicals and hormones are released into the blood vessels and circulatory system to prepare ourselves for a "fight or flight."  And in the event of humor or laughter, the brain chemicals, endorphins- called the "feel good" hormones, are released and rid cortisol, epinephrine and other stress hormones.  As a result any built-up anger, anxiety or tension is lessened and delight, happiness and satisfaction spike.  It's the exact biological and physiological benefit and reaction during or with exercise or other types of workouts.  

Humor and laughter also decrease cortisol and hormones or inflammatory markers of pain and stress and increase immune-booster and T-killer cells and thus improving the body's ability to fend and resist diseases or illnesses, lower inflammation and pain and relieve stress.

People who laughed regularly were 40% less likely to have heart disease.

Specifically, humor and laughter are proven to offer or provide many emotional, mental, physical and social health benefits, like boost antibodies, enhance cognitive function and learning, increase metabolism and stamina, lower blood pressure and heart rate, maintain cortisol-dopamine-epinephrine-growth hormone levels, open doors to or strengthen genuine, trusting personal and social relationships, and more.

- A Day Spent Not Hanging Out Laughing or Smiling is One Wasted! -

                                         - Charlie Chaplin

I look at humor and laughter in my life.  I admit I take things more serious than necessary at times.  I could laugh more.  In fact, I should be more like my kids and wife. If humor and laughter are medicine, my family has dopamine and penicillin flowing out their ears from the floor to the ceiling, through the roof.  And they are happy and healthy with big esteems, great sense of humors and positive relationships.  Of course, my kids argue about whose toy is whose, battle sleep time, experiences colds and illnesses and have growing pains and stress, and more, but they are kids (three boy toddlers plus one girl on the way) and as parents it important to help them deal with the bad constructively and peacefully and find the positive in all things. And if they are really angry or upset they can go outside and play, ride bikes or throw a rock in the creek.  There is never a bad time to work on the baseball throw. The inclusion of daily humor and laughter is an integral and valuable self-care and -healing tool that like exercise can provide immediate and long term adaptations and benefits to health and quality of life.

Include More Humor and Laughter and Smiling in Your Life!

• Always Smile, and Be Spontaneous.  A smile often precedes laughter.  If you smile more often you are more likely to laugh more often as well.  And people who smile more are more spontaneous. Spontaneity assists in keeping life exciting, fresh and new, keeps life from becoming or being stale, and takes you away from stress or troubles either immediately or short-term.
• Don't Be Controlling or Defensive and Make More Stress.  Being controlling or defensive causes resistance.  There may be justified reasons for either or, but somethings are out of your control and they create more stress and tension.  That may be hard, especially if you are like me.  I like to control most things.  I am a perfectionist.  But stress impedes the benefits of humor and laughter, overtaxing or taking a toll on the body and mind.  However, it's humor and laughter that can beat or reduce the ill effects of stress via ridding anxiety, criticism, doubt, judgement, and more.  So, if you are in a bad situation or want to control or judge someone, something or yourself, do not try to control, discover or govern the absurdities of life, and instead BE IN THE MOMENT and enjoy the time and you will lift your energy and mood, and that of those around you too.
• Organize and Plan to Participate in Fun, Games, Parties, and more.  Life is a busy orchestra of appointments and meetings, making lunches, playing, and whether the said activities, events, parties or other "things" are organized or planned they can change or drop suddenly.  Still, it is important to find or put humor and laughter in your daily life.  

• Be silly (sometimes).
• Go to a comedy club.
• Hang out with funny people.
• Make time for and play activities or games.
• Perform Laughter Therapy <OR> Laughter Yoga.
• Post or watch funny clips or posts on Facebook or YouTube.
• Read a book of jokes or comic series, See a clip of funny sports bloopers, or Watch a funny movie, skit or TV show.
• Rx: Keep It in Perspective! Release It!  Remember It!  Stay Surrounded!  The best medical prescription (Rx): Humor and Laughter.  Humor and laughter help us to keep things in perspective so we may not take unnecessary things to serious, process and release harmful behaviors, habits or stressful things, remember effective and healthful solutions, and stay surrounded by and truthful to actions and/or people. Thou shall not let fear or people hold you back. Cast it or them aside with humor and laughter and move onward to flourish and prosper.  That is easy to read and say but it's not easy to follow "that" truth. The truth is this LAUGHTER prescription distances bad behaviors and negative thinking and enables humor and laughter to shine on the good things.  You see, at any time depression or sadness remains if you don't quickly stop it you will have further to go to get out of the rut.
• Perspective: Many things in life are beyond our control—particularly the behavior and opinions of other people. While you might think meeting people's demands and expectations and taking on the weight of the weight of the world is admirable, in the long run it’s egotistical, unhealthy, unproductive and unrealistic. You can't or should not consider to do that, unless your name is Hercules- (?). 
• Releasing It: Not another Frozen "Let It Go" moment...  but do not hold onto bad feelings, negative thinking or stress.  They prevent you from being happy or laughing and smiling.  In fact, humor, laughter and smiling are instrumental tools to help you be optimistic and positive and deal with difficult disappointments, loss or situations.  Though they're small things, the power of chuckles, laughs or smiles can go a long way!  Try to be known as the person "Who Laughs or Smiles Too Much."
• Remember It: Remember what makes you happy and stress-free. Avoid conversations, news or people that dampen your happiness and kill your mood. Be mindful to hang out with people or participate in things to "Have Fun and Lighten Up."  Perhaps you could also keep items or things nearby to make it easy for you to remember what makes you happy, such as a picture in a pocket or picture, song or video on an iPod or smartphone.  And when in doubt, pay attention to children and emulate them- they are the experts in taking on life with happiness, laughter and smiling while letting go of much of the absurd "noise" around them.      
• Stay Grounded & Surrounded: You can't be angry or sad if you are laughing and smiling.  Start each day with humor and a laugh.  Even laugh and smile at yourself!  Then plan to be grounded and surrounded by good, positive, uplifting people, pets or things.  For example: Keep a picture or a toy in a car or on a desk; Put up funny pictures or posters at home or in office; Visit your child's preschool and volunteer; and others.  The more you are able to laugh and smile the easier it will be for you to have emotional or physiological-like benefits without having to experience an actual "funny" event or situation. 

Humor and Laughing Are a Workout that Your Body Wants!!!

"Humor and laughter are like cognitive, emotional and physiological running."  They are a workout.  And they are by results equivalent types of workouts.  The cardiovascular and metabolic effects from about one minute of laughing is equal to near 10 minutes of rowing. Try it.  Watch a "funny."  The humor and laughter will cause high levels of contractility, sensitivity and stimulation in the abdominals, back, chest and facial muscles.  Moreover, the cardiovascular and metabolic responses will cause less muscle strain or physical stress or tension for up to 45 minutes. AND most people know 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise has the potential to improve cardiovascular health, metabolism and stamina and lower health risks.  In comparison, 10 minutes laughing ('Horrible Bosses' kind of laughing) has the potential to boost health, mood and stamina and burn as many calories as a half-hour of a low to moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise session or workout. Humor and laughter are a mobile app and internal personal trainer that are always with you, and in a good mood and high spirits.  They are guaranteed to make you feel good 100% of the time.

Though not all humor and laughter are the same, since there are times to be happy and others to be sad, but it doesn't hurt to try to be more open minded about things and have a little fun and play too.  Understandable life is not always a laughing matter, but if you are not laughing and smiling you are probably going to miss a lot along the way.  We are brought into the world crying and soon we laugh and smile (at near 4 months old) and at that time and onward we seek to have more if it.  It is contagious.  It feels good to laugh and smile.  And when we are around it or simply have it in our daily lives we have a noticeable higher quality of life.  We can learn a lot from children laughing and playing, essentially a health habit of theirs, an innate one, and it's important to understand how to have more humor and laughter regularly in ours and to use it to boost our health, spirits and well-being.