How does laughter relieve stress?
There are several factors, and studies, which show us how well laughter works to relieve stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, the short-term effects of a good belly laugh include: • Organ stimulation. When you laugh, you take in more oxygen which stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles. In turn, more endorphins are released by your brain. • Stress response activation. With a good belly laugh, your stress response is activated and then cooled down which increases your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you feeling pleasantly relaxed. • Stomachache relief. Increased blood flow to your organs can help smooth out digestion issues, which can be both a cause and symptom of stress. Laughter does much more than simply providing a momentary boost. In the long-term, it has grand power in helping deal with stress in the following: • Immune system. Pessimistic thoughts act like a giant funnel, bringing more stress into your body which is extremely harsh on your immune system. Optimistic thi
