Numerous studies indicate that laughter has a very positive effect on human health.
Thus, researchers at Indiana University in the early 1990s invited students to voluntarily donate blood, and "treated" them with cinema tickets for the screening of a hilarious comedy.
The audience laughed uproariously during the screening, but they did not know that when they left the cinema, they would give blood once again.
The researchers compared and analyzed two blood samples in the laboratory and the findings showed that the blood taken after the film had a significantly higher number of cells that preserve immunity than the blood taken from the same people before watching the film.
In order to laugh, the diaphragm must be raised 18 times per second, so laughing forces our abdominal, shoulder and chest muscles to contract, and the heart, lungs and liver participate in this "exercise".
Among other things, during laughing, the amount of oxygen that enters our body through the blood increases, which can quickly supply us with energy. There are studies that have proven that laughter accelerates the heartbeat by 10 to 20 percent and increases blood flow through the arteries by 22 percent.
The hormone of happiness
When we laugh, the pituitary gland stimulates the release of opiates similar to morphine, and the secretion of happiness hormones increases: serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and noradrenaline. Scientists have long established that these hormones act directly on the human brain, creating a feeling of satisfaction and happiness. Thus, in the end, laughter has a preventive and beneficial effect in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, improves the neurological system and enables better sleep. Laughter, among other things, helps us overcome crisis situations in life more easily, and helps us get rid of negative emotions, including fear, anger, rage and resentment, which also contributes to psychological stability.
Unfortunately, despite all the positive effects of laughter - we rarely laugh. Research shows that adults only laugh 13 to 17 times during the day, which is often not related to any really funny stimuli, but to situations that are not necessarily funny.
A sincere smile
Thus, some studies suggest that as much as 80 percent of laughter occurs in ordinary conversation. Children laugh up to 300 times a day. Scientists claim that this difference stems from the fact that for children everything around them is new and unexpected, and thus funny, while adults always look for reasons in funny situations. It has been shown that during just 10 minutes of laughter a day, we can burn 50 calories. Of course, an hour of laughing a day won't replace an hour in the gym, but it can certainly help you reach and maintain your desired weight more easily. People who want to attract attention often laugh out loud (sometimes it's a sign of a milder form of mental illness). A chuckle similar to a cackle indicates enjoyment in another's trouble. Roaring while laughing can be associated with those who consider themselves superior. Laughing from the belly usually means that we are friendly. People who sneer are usually very immature and insensitive. Those who laugh at themselves are considerate, but often withdrawn people. People recognize sincere laughter by unconsciously laughing themselves, reports Nezavisne.
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