How long does it take to stop and fill your car with gas? Call and check on a friend? Order a pizza from your favorite pizza place? What is fifteen minutes out of a twenty-four hour day? Well, if you think about it not very much. Did you know that if you laugh for fifteen minutes a day that it is close to an aerobic work out, or at least close to the health benefits derived from a workout. Researchers show that if we can laugh for fifteen minutes each day that it helps our blood flow, which in turn helps our heart.



I have heard this saying all off my life, and I am sure you have too, "laughter is the best medicine". Well, I guess it really is. Can you imagine going to the doctor's office and instead of a prescription you get a list of comedy videos or a couple of names of good joke books? Wouldn't that seem strange? Studies and researchers have discovered that laughter affects the body in many, many, good ways and we don't even realize it. Have you ever thought that your blood pressure can be lowered? Laughter reduces stress, and laughter even helps your immune system. Why do more people not use this very pleasant pain free "drug"? I think this will be my drug of choice from now on. We just need to get more people turned on to it. Wouldn't you agree?

If the effect on the immune system is such a boost, why aren't more people in tune to this wonderful state of mind? Simply because it often seems too good to be true. How can something so much fun, be so good for you? Ours is not to question why, sometimes, simply to accept, and that's what we should do with the ?laughter factor?; we should simply accept the wonderful side affects, and imbibe in this great drug more often.

Is this why we see clown pictures in the dentist offices or in hospitals? Do children relate this to happy times and it makes them feel more comfortable and happy? They see clowns at the circus, birthday parties, on wall-paper, etc. are they relating to these happy times and it helps make them feel better, more comfortable, at ease, less stressed out? I know when I go to the doctors, I always feel so stressed, but my doctor usually comes in with a smile, maybe even a joke now and then. Now I know he was trying to make me more comfortable and lighten the "stress" that I was feeling.

Don't think you can replace eating right and daily exercise with laughing for fifteen minutes a day. You still need to continue this, but next time it is raining or cold out-side and you can't get in your day of physical activity, just go to your local video rental store, or turn on the comedy channel on your TV and have yourself a really good belly laugh. Your heart will love you for it. When you can laugh you are in a win/win situation. Everybody wants to be a winner. Now you know that you can help one of you family members or a friend and they want even realize it, put a few comedies or joke books on your gift list, for Christmas, birthday, mothers day, fathers day. They will feel better and won't know why. Laugh and your heart laughs with you.

The whole idea is that laughter increases your well-being. It isn't the end-all for health. It is a supplement to a healthy lifestyle. But have you ever noticed? Healthy people are generally happy people too? They seem to be happier, have a better sense of humor and self-worth, and know how to quickly adapt to changing situations. Could all this be somehow related to a wonderful sense of humor? I'm one of the advocates that say ?yes?! I believe that our bodies are able to deal with the stresses of life often because we are able to find a humorous side to any situation, or adapt to any situation because we can see the humor or lighter side. Apparently, our hearts are aware of this fact also. So, laugh, be happy, and your heart will follow suit!