Laughing Matters

Vitamin L

Laughter is healthy on all levels. A hearty laugh can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, elevate mood, boost the immune system, improve brain function and may even decrease the risk of a heart attack. Laughter feels good for a variety of reasons. It involves most of the body's systems -- our muscles, respiration, heart, body temperature, and central nervous system. When we laugh heartily, stress hormones decrease. Endorphins (our body's natural pain killers) are released. After a good laugh, our blood pressure falls briefly to below normal levels, which helps to give us a feeling of relaxation and satisfaction.