Funny Business: How Humor Positively Affects Your Stress Levels

There is so much in this modern world that can cause stress, and stress by itself can have a negative effect on the human body. Stress can lead to numerous physical problems including weight gain, insomnia, fatigue and high susceptibility to illness. In the long run, stress has been proven to lead to more detrimental problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Now more than ever, it is important to find ways to minimize stress.

Have you ever heard the old adage, “laughter is the best medicine?” The phrase has been around a long time, but there is a great deal of truth to humor being so helpful. Not only does humor and laughter seem to make us feel better, it actually has proven physical effects on the body. When you laugh, whether you’re enjoying a funny movie, a joke from a friend, or even a comic strip, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Often called “feel good chemicals,” endorphins make the body feel more relaxed and more stress free. So humor can actually lower stress!

 

In addition, it it is well known to doctors and medical professionals that people who live well and laugh often have lower mortality rates than high-stress individuals. It is a stereotype that many individuals in high-paid, high stress jobs such as bankers and stockbrokers often lead shorter lives, with ulcers, heart attacks and high blood pressure reducing their quality of life. In contrast, many poorer societies with a much lower stress level and income tend to live longer.

 

For instance, the average life expectancy of a person born in the US currently stands at 78 years old (2011 figures), which for one of the richest nations in the world comes in at a shocking 36nd place. The USA limps in behind Finland (25th place), Canada (11th place) and Japan (1st place) on the longevity scale.

 

Stress is an everyday part of life, but how you deal with stress determines your physical health and your life expectancy. So go ahead and laugh – your health may depend on it.

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