laughter ‘the best medicine" ?

Is laughter really the ‘best medicine’? We all feel better for laughing - but is there any evidence it can really improve our health?

 

Are there really health benefits?

 

Laughing may make us feel better and more able to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life. However, is there any evidence it has actual health benefits?

 

One large study, in Japan, researched 20,934 people aged over 65. It found those who reported laughing every day were less likely to experience heart disease than those who never or almost never laughed

 

A number of small studies have also suggested potential health benefits,for example that laughter may help:

 

 

Reduce stress

 

Improve learning ability and memory

 

Achieve improvements in memory, sociability and communication

 

Improve the ability to tolerate pain

 

Possibly reduce depression in older women

 

Improve mood and self-esteem

 

Improve quality of life for nursing home residents

 

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Candid street shot, Honiton, Devon, UK

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