Have you laughed (enough) today?

That old saying, "Laughter is the best medicine," really is pretty accurate. Here are just some of the proven health benefits of laughing:

-lowers blood pressure
-increases blood flow to the heart and improves oxygenation of the blood
-uses, and may increase strength in, the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
-reduces certain stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and adrenaline
-increases health enhancing hormones such as endorphins
-increases the response of tumor- and disease- killing cells and reduces inflammation
-helps ward off respiratory infections, may even reduce the frequency of colds
-increases memory and learning, and may even increase test scores
-improves alertness and creativity

On average, babies and young children laugh between 200-300 times a day, 

with laughter peeking at about age 5. 

Adults, on average, laugh between 15-20 times day. 

That number decreases with age and in direct correlation with time spent alone.

It has been proven that laughter is contagious. And that second-hand laughter (hearing or watching someone else laugh) can deliver some of the same health benefits as if we laughed ourselves. 

So - I think we should all:

 hang out with babies and children more often,

watch funny shows and movies, seek out funny friends, 

enjoy text messaging auto correct faux pas,

and all-in-all, look for more reasons to laugh.

"You don't stop laughing because you grow old,
you grow old because you stop laughing."     

      --Michael Pritchard