HOW LAUGHTER BENEFITS US AS WE AGE

WELLNESS

How LAUGHTER Benefits Us as We Age

BY JACKIE SWIESZ

Not only does laughing boost our spirits and make the day seem sunnier, but it also boosts our health! There are some distinct benefits from laughter that leave us feeling better, aging better, and generally living better far into our golden years. Read on to see what research has shown:

✱ Laughter is good for the heart – literally! Our hearts pump a bit more when we laugh, which increases circulation and oxygen as we draw in air for those deep belly laughs and gleeful giggles. ✱ By laughing together, we bond with

others and become more emotionally

attuned to each other. Because laughter is a common thread, it improves the quality of interpersonal relationships - so much so, in fact, that some experts believe all the other health benefits flow from the improved social support laughter brings.

✱ Laughter releases endorphins, the hormones that help regulate pain in the body with its calming effect. Another benefit of laughing is that it drops cortisol levels, which reduces inflammation throughout the body.

✱ We all know that

stress wreaks havoc on our bodies, but laughter is a great way to combat

the effects. Stress reduction increases the efficiency of our immune system, lowers our levels of anxiety and depression, and improves our sleep and eating habits. That’s

REALLY something to laugh about! ✱ Can we laugh our way to better core strength? Laughter engages our muscles and helps with reducing back pain as well as improving our breathing – a boon for those with asthma.

✱ Laughter promotes emotional well-

being and a better sense of selfworth, which also creates a more stable mood and a more positive

outlook. By laughing, we become more optimistic overall. Studies have shown that people who have a sense of optimism also BY LAUGHING have a strong sense of resilience in the face of TOGETHER, WE adversity, like job loss, financial issues, and BOND WITH OTHERS other major stressors. AND BECOME MORE The middle of winter EMOTIONALLY is the perfect time to inject some more ATTUNED TO EACH humor and laughter into your life. There OTHER. are always ways to find lightheartedness and happiness in any situation if you open yourself up to the possibility. Here are some suggestions for how to get a good belly laugh each day. ✱ Watch something funny. Whether it’s your cat being silly or your favorite sitcom, something that tickles your funny bone will do just the trick. ✱ Talk to someone every day. Even if you’re socially distanced, you can still

pick up the phone and text or call a dear friend or family member. Try to think of something funny to tell them, and laughter will lighten their day, too.

✱ Listen to the radio. The weekly program,

“Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” runs every

Saturday morning and is on National Public

Radio. It’s a weekly news quiz. Have a laugh and test your knowledge with today’s funniest comedians. Plus, you can dial in on old-time radio mysteries that have lots of humorous lines.

Maintaining a good level of health is essential in life, yet a real challenge. This is where laughter can rescue us from daily stress and difficulties with a big smile.

“I have been to many places, but I’ve never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can’t go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I’ve also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.” —A Joke A Day

Thankfully, we chose Billings Clinic.

“My mom, Mary, is my biggest supporter and my biggest fan. The morning of her stroke, something felt di erent. God was telling me something was wrong. I checked on my mom and that’s when she told me she couldn’t move her legs. I rushed over and took her to the Emergency Room at Billings Clinic. When we arrived, the team told me that my mom was having a stroke. They immediately got her in for a thrombectomy to remove the clot. A nurse came out and called my name, and it was one of the scariest and best parts of my life. I immediately asked, ‘Is my mom okay?’ And she said ‘yes’ with a big smile. My mom always taught us to give thanks in all things. Now I appreciate how much of a miracle she is and how grateful we are for Billings Clinic.” - Megan, Mary’s daughter