By Krista B. Ledbetter
of The Northwestern October 9, 2006
In a time of health insurance woes and money troubles, there's one thing to make you feel better than requires neither insurance nor money. Laughter.
| A
good laugh may carry health benefits
By Krista B. Ledbetter of The Northwestern October 9, 2006 |
|
| Laughter
is free.
In a time of health insurance woes and money troubles, there's one thing to make you feel better than requires neither insurance nor money. Laughter. |
Ryan Berko and his group of friends laugh at the jokes of comedian Craig Allen at Fratello's Wednesday night. Doctors say laughter makes us forget about our pain. Shu-Ling Zhou of The Northwestern |
"We're so stressed today," said Michelle Fogarty, therapist with Aurora Medical Center. "We do need to step back and laugh a bit."
People laugh at all things. Whether it's a joke, a comedian, a movie, or another person's misfortune.
And the end result is usually the same – people feel good when they laugh. Laughing, Fogarty said, is a release.
"Humor is a release from different emotions, like stress," she said. "It's a natural stress reducer."
Fogarty said it is literally impossible for a person to be angry and laugh at the same time. The brain can't occupy more than one emotion, she said.
 Comedian Craig Allen of Minneapolis entertains the crowd during the Wednesday Comedian Nights at Fratello's Waterfront Brewery & Restaurant. Northwestern Photo by Shu-Ling Zhou |
"There is a physiological aspect to it," she said. "We actually will release endorphins. That's a natural occurrence." Erica Kroncke, pediatrician with ThedaCare, said laughter affects the overall regulation of hormones in the body, such as stress hormones or other hormones that modulate disease. "It makes us feel better because it makes us forget some things that are causing stress or pain," Kroncke said. "Laughter may help the immune system and cause muscle relaxation in addition to distraction from stress." |
Laughter is much like chocolate, massage or sex.
"All of these things cause good feelings," she said.
Fogarty said laughing is so much more than a reaction to a funny situation.
"It reduces stress, it's healthy, it's an emotional cathartic. It seriously is a release," she said.
Among those, Fogarty listed other benefits of laughter. Laughing increases mental flexibility, it eases pain, helps us cope with change or recover from failure. Laughing makes you warm, lowers your blood pressure.
It is a social lubricant, she said.
"Laughter is the natural antidote to stress," she said. "Laughter is a reflection of your attitude, an empowerment tool. If you can look at yourself and laugh, and take yourself less seriously, that's amazing."
Laughing is also a cardiovascular workout, she said, which most people don't know.
So laugh away the stress. Laugh at your favorite television show. Laugh at bad jokes. Laugh at your own faults.
"Remember, it's OK to act like a kid because adults need to play, too," Fogarty said. "It's amazing, the effect of laughter."
Krista B. Ledbetter: 426-6656 or kledbetter@thenorthwestern.com