April is National Stress Awareness Month and National Humor Month. The saying “Laughter is the best medicine” has been around for years. It’s not an “old wive’s tale”, it really does have a number of positive effects. According to researchers at Mayo Clinic “A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.”

Health Benefits of Laughing

Laughing stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain. It also stimulates circulation and aids muscle relaxation, further helping to reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

In addition to the quick pick-me-up you feel when laughing, there are many long-term effects to giggling and guffawing. Research has shown that laughing out loud releases neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses. Laughter can also be a pain reliever, and mood enhancer.

So take a moment and just laugh for absolutely no reason at all. You’ll feel better for it.

“I love to laugh, loud and long and clear. I love to laugh it’s getting worse. The more I laugh the more I’m filled with glee. The more the glee…the more I’m a merrier me.” – Mary Poppins – I Love To Laugh