A reason to laugh
You know how it feels when you laugh so hard you cry? Whatever tension you had seems to wash away. And medical science is catching on to what we’ve been feeling.
- A March 2005 study by Michael Miller, MD, at the University of Maryland showed that in healthy people, laughter did as much good for their arteries as aerobic activity.
- A 2007 study in the International Journal of Obesity suggests that genuine laughter can increase calories burned by 10 percent to 20 percent, which may help with weight management. This may even help lower blood glucose in people who have diabetes.
- April 2009 studies by Lee Berk, DrPH, and Stanley Tan, MD, at Loma Linda University showed that laughter reduced stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, and dopamine. It also increased protective hormones like beta endorphins and human growth hormone.
What’s your prescription for laughter? A Marx Brothers movie? Calvin and Hobbes comics or maybe karaoke? Whatever you choose, make time for fun activities.
Learn more about how humor helps keep you healthy.
Featured Stories
Vitamin D: 5 reasons it’s good for you
Learn why your body needs this valuable supplement — and how to get more of it safely.
How to quit smoking
We’ve got the secret to successful quitting.
Be good to your heart
Dr. Eleanor Levin shares 5 ways you can improve your heart’s health.
