Feeling Really Stressed At Work?
Try a Belly Laugh
Adedapo Aderele, B.Pharm. N.D

It’s official. Laughter is indeed the best medicine. Scientists have found a plethora of benefits that can be derived from laughing heartily several times a day.

The biggest pay off seems to be a release of tension followed by a relaxation of the skeletal muscles. Laughter has a beneficial effect on all the body systems such as the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, endocrine system and the immune system. Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, thus producing a general feeling of euphoria or well being. Little wonder that in ancient Greece, hospitals were built next to amphitheaters to help ‘cure’ the patients.

Stress constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and increases the sugar levels in the blood. Studies have shown that laughter reduces levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and in effect reverses the constriction of blood vessels.

Laughter also provides a good cardiovascular workout. It forces us to inhale and exhale more forcefully, thus cleansing the lungs of stale air and making room for fresh clean life giving oxygen to permeate our body cells. 

Mark Twain said ‘The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that’s laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place’

So the next time you feel stress creeping up on you, take a break and roar with laughter!