Laughter and Health
A link between laughter and healthy function of blood vessels was first reported in 2005 by researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center with the fact that laughter causes the dilatation of the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, and increases blood flow. Drs. Michael Miller (University of Maryland) and William Fry (Stanford), theorize that beta-endorphin like compounds released by the hypothalamus activate receptors on the endothelial surface to release nitric oxide, thereby resulting in dilation of vessels. Other cardioprotective properties of nitric oxide include reduction of inflammation and decreased platelet aggregation.
Laughter has also been shown to have beneficial effects on various other aspects of biochemistry. For example, laughter has been shown to lead to reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. When laughing the brain also releases endorphins that can relieve some physical pain. Laughter also boosts the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T-cells, leading to a stronger immune system.
Laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes of rowing or 15 minutes of bike riding.
Read more about this topic: Laughter
Famous quotes containing the words laughter and, laughter and/or health:
“Of how he loved high laughter and the lonely
Heart, and cursed a dissipated rime
Of weariness in a golden morning, only
To rouse a cold Helen where the dawn distils
Her bewildered beauty on feet-forgotten hills.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)
“The laughter of man is more terrible than his tears, and takes more forms—hollow, heartless, mirthless, maniacal.”
—James Thurber (1894–1961)
“Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)