Humor and Health 

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children as they were on the way to church service. “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied,” because people are sleeping.”  

Jokes, we hear them and get a good laugh. Did you know that laughter activates the chemistry of the will to live and increases our capacity to fight disease? Laughing relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis and ulcers. 

According to a new study in cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, laughter along with an active sense of humor may help protect you against a heart attack. The study is the first to indicate laughter may help prevent heart disease. The research found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations, compared to people of the same age without heart disease. They generally laughed less even in positive situations and displayed more anger and hostility. 

A good hearty laugh can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, elevate mood, boost immune system, improve brain function, protect the heart, foster instant relaxation and connect you to others. 

According to Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, his hypothesis is that laughter causes the body to release natural chemicals known as endorphins that may counteract the effects of stress hormones and cause blood vessels to dilate. Still a long way from proving their hypothesis they say the theory makes sense. Dr. Miller relates that when you laugh you send a signal to the brain to release these endorphins and these may activate receptors to release other chemicals, perhaps nitric oxide which is known to enhance blood vessel dilation. 

Dr. Lee Berk who studies laughter at Loma Linda University says, laughter may also use similar mechanisms to help boost the immune system and reduce the amount of inflammation in the body, which has been linked to and increased risk of a host of health problems. 

A life with laughter is better that one without it, laughter makes you feel better. There is no downside to laughing. 

Wouldn’t it be great to hear: For a Healthy Lifestyle you need to:

	Eat Right
	Exercise
	And LAUGH

Laughter does sound like it is the best medicine, so, DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH!!