Since many of us with health complications face challenges in our changed lifestyles due to COVID-19, we want to provide a brief diversion through humor. Thus, we turn to laughter is healthy.
Defining Laughter
Before considering its health effects, what exactly is laughter? According to Wikipedia:
“Laughter is a physical reaction in humans. Usually, it consists of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm. As well as other parts of the respiratory system. It occurs when we respond to certain external or internal stimuli. Laughter arises from such activities as tickling. Or from humorous stories or thoughts. Most commonly, laughter represents a visual expression of a number of positive emotional states. Including joy, mirth, happiness, relief, etc. On some occasions, however, occurs from contrary emotional states. These include embarrassment, apology, or confusion such as nervous laughter. Age, gender, education, language, and culture all indicate whether a person will experience laughter in a given situation. Sometimes, laughter is contagious. Then, the laughter of one person itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback”
“In one study, two humor researchers asked 80 people to keep a daily laughter record. And they found people laughed an average of 18 times per day. However, their study also found a wide range. With some people laughing as many as 89 times per day. While others laughed as few as 0 times per day.”
Laughter Is Healthy
Wikipedia also does an excellent job of laying out the health benefits of laughter:
“A link between laughter and healthy function of blood vessels was first reported in 2005 by researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center. With the fact that laughter causes the dilatation of the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, and increases blood flow. Drs. Michael Miller (University of Maryland) and William Fry (Stanford) theorize that beta-endorphin like compounds released by the hypothalamus activate receptors on the endothelial surface to release nitric oxide. Thereby resulting in dilation of vessels. Other cardioprotective properties of nitric oxide include reduction of inflammation and decreased platelet aggregation.”
“Laughter has proven beneficial effects on various other aspects of biochemistry. Such as reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. When laughing, the brain also releases endorphins that can relieve some physical pain. In addition, laughter boosts the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T-cells, leading to a stronger immune system. A 2000 study found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh and be able to recognize humor in a variety of situations, compared to people of the same age without heart disease.”
Funny Jokes [We hope.]
Humor is in the eyes and ears of the beholder. Do you find these jokes funny? Do you find any to be groaners? 🙂
The jokes are extracted from Reader’s Digest s Top 50 Funniest:
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He’s not breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. “I think my friend is dead!” he yells. “What can I do?” The operator says, “Calm down. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There’s a silence, then a shot. Back on the phone, the guy says, “OK, now what?”
“Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?” – George Carlin
A poodle and a collie are walking together when the poodle suddenly unloads on his friend. “My life is a mess,” he says. “My owner is mean, my girlfriend ran away with a schnauzer, and I’m as jittery as a cat.” “Why don’t you go see a psychiatrist?” suggests the collie. “I can’t,” says the poodle. “I’m not allowed on the couch.”
A skeleton walks into a bar. The bartender says, “What’ll you have?” The skeleton says, “Gimme a beer and a mop.”
The village blacksmith finally found an apprentice willing to work hard for long hours. The blacksmith instructed the boy, “When I take the shoe out of the fire, I’ll lay it on the anvil; and when I nod my head, you hit it with this hammer.” The apprentice did just as he was told. Now he’s the village blacksmith.
A mother asks her young sons what they want for breakfast. The first little boy says, “I’ll have some @#$%^& pancakes.” The mother angrily sends him to his room for cursing. She glares at the other little boy and asks, “What do you want for breakfast?!” The second boy says, “Well, I sure don’t want the @#$%^& pancakes!”
Want more? Click the image below to access 138 one-line, health-related jokes.
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