Benefits of Laughter
eddyseniorliving.com posted an online article in April of 2018. The title is “Health Benefits of Laughter for Seniors.”
April is actually National Humor Month and, as it turns out, laughter may actually be the
“Best Medicine”. Laughter lifts our spirits and in general makes us feel better and seniors reap even greater results, such as;
- Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
- Relaxes body releasing physical tension for up to 45 minutes after laughter
- Increase Dopamine, the hormone that reduces stress, anxiety and depression
- Boosts the Immune System
- Release immune cells and antibodies
- Improves resistance to disease
- Fights infection faster
- Eases Pain & Inflammation
- Releases Endorphins (the feel-good hormone)
- Reduces pain up to 2-hours
- Reduces Cortisol (stress hormone) levels, easing pain
- Improves Memory Function
- Reduced stress improves memory
- Lowers Blood Pressure
- Improves circulation and oxygenation
- Lowers cholesterol and risk of heart disease
- Provides a Workout
- Abdominal muscles and diaphragm
- Helps to improve respiratory disease (asthma, bronchitis, COPD, etc.)
If you have a loved who is not socially interacting or isolated, you need to tell them jokes, watch a funny movie, etc. Still the best way to engage in humor and laughter is to get them involved with a group, whether that be a Senior Center or Senior Living Facility, they need other individuals. Regular laughter will improve their quality of life.
