Is laughter, indeed, the best medicine?

Answer 1

Indeed but sex is a close 2nd place.

Answer 2

While it is normally only considered cliché that "laughter is the best medicine," specific medical theories attribute improved health, increased life expectancy, and overall improved well-being, to laughter.

A study demonstrated neuroendocrine and stress-related hormones decreased during episodes of laughter, which provides support for the claim that humor can relieve stress. Writer Norman Cousins wrote about his experience with laughter in helping him recover from a serious illness in 1979's Anatomy of an Illness As Perceived by the Patient. In 1989, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article, wherein the author wrote that "a humor therapy program can increase the quality of life for patients with chronic problems and that laughter has an immediate symptom-relieving effect for these patients, an effect that is potentiated when laughter is induced regularly over a period".

Some therapy movements like Re-evaluation Counseling believe that laughter is a type of "bodily discharge", along with crying, yawning and others, which requires encourgement and support as a means of healing.

Answer 3

Yes, Laughter is indeed the best medicine.
You can look it up.
I have adult friends that laugh about almost everything.
I smile all the time but I don't find everything funny like they do.
I love them none the less.
It has to come freely, not put on~~~~~Jill

Answer 4

In a study, researchers compared the humor responses of 300 people. Half of the participants had either suffered a heart attack or had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 were healthy, age-matched participants who did not have heart disease.

Participants in the study were asked to complete two questionnaires. One questionnaire had a series of multiple-choice answers to find out how much or how little the participant laughs in certain situations. The second questionnaire used 50 true or false answers to measure anger and hostility.

For example, the questions included the following:

From the multiple-choice section:

If you arrived at a party and found that someone else was wearing a piece of clothing identical to yours, would you (a) not find it particularly amusing (b) be amused but not show it outwardly (c) smile (d) laugh or (e) laugh heartily.
If you were eating in a restaurant with some friends and the waiter accidentally spilled a drink on you, would you (a) not find it particularly amusing (b) be amused but not show it outwardly (c) smile (d) laugh or (e) laugh heartily.
From the true or false section:

I often wonder what hidden reasons another person may have for doing something nice for me. True or False.
I am likely not to talk to people until they speak to me. True or False
People with heart disease were less likely to recognize humor or use it to get out of uncomfortable situations. They generally laughed less, even in positive situations and they displayed more anger and hostility.

"The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Dr. Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list." Dr. Miller says it may be possible to incorporate laugher into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

"We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Dr. Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be -- exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day."

Answer 5

I always adore people who make me laugh, they have God - like status in my eyes. And yes laughter is the best medicine, I have overcome many things with laughter.

Answer 6

Yes, anytime I am having a sad day, all it takes to cheer me up is a funny movie, a night at the local comedy club or even a few jokes. I can feel my whole outlook changing in only a few minutes.

Better than any pills or meds that I know of.

Have a good night.

Answer 7

While it's no replacement for medical treatment when it's greatly needed, laughter strengthens the heart and makes everyone feel happy and forget the pain.

Answer 8

Being a Certified Nurses' Aide....I always tell my patients "Laughter is the best medicine, it's FREE!"

Answer 9

Depends on the ailment. But it works most of the time. Some times I have to languish in my own misery.
I seen your blog yesterday and even though I'm not a praying man I said one for you and your freind. Hope the best for you.

Answer 10

Scientifically there are a couple of benefts to laughter
1. If you laugh once, then you burn 5 calories
therefore 200 laughs x 5 calories a tick= 1000 calories burned, laughs also allow situations to become better.

Answer 11

I once broke a rib and everytime i lauged during the recovery I wanted to kill whoever told me the joke.

So I am going to have to say no.

But I do like to laugh when I dont feel like dogs are chewing away at my lungs.

Smiles!