HealthyLinking.com: Health Directory, Healthy Living Information, Physical Activity Guide

How Laughing Is Good For Your Health

When thinking about alternative medicine, most people picture plants, crystals, needles, maybe some bugs and leeches, but few realize that jokes, humor and comedy are truly medicines, in their own right. It has long been established that optimists live longer than pessimists, but now there is some hard evidence that people with a better sense of humor also have longer and healthier lives. Your "stay healthy" plan should include a joke and a 20-minute comedy show, to go with the broccoli and carrots.

There are now various associations and physicians specialized in the so-called therapeutic humor, who are still investigating the roles of laughter in our lives. Perhaps the most obvious of these roles is that related to the social life - jokes often allow people to connect and to bond, and sharing a good laughter is a good method to integrate in a team, to get along with the coworkers, neighbors and so on. This function is vital from the point of view of mental health, since it reduces loneliness and, with it, depression and other problems associated with it. You don't have to be trained in stand-up comedy in order to say something funny, sometimes all you need is a change of perspective or the courage to make fun at your own expense.

Humor is an invaluable asset in crisis situations, when it helps us calm down and reduce the levels of stress (and all the negative effects stress has on health). It is often considered that, among patients with very severe diseases, those with an upbeat approach, who are capable of making jokes about their situations, have the best chances to defeat the illness. So far, there have been no scientific studies to prove this, but the patients themselves report feeling better after joining an activity with humorous potential, even if it's just watching a comedy show together with some friends or with other patients.

Recent researches suggest that laughter influences more than our mental framework, it actually has a positive effect on the physical aspect as well. It has been widely accepted, for some time, that laughter increases the pain resistance level, but the theory is still not proven. In fact, very few studies have yet been made about the relation between comedy and health, but those existing seem to indicate that a good joke may lower the blood pressure, improve memory and cognitive functions and boost the immune system. Moreover, these results are not short-term only: it seems that a good sense of humor may protect you against heart diseases and alter your biochemical state to a level where the organism produces more antibodies. The lack of research in the field is due to the fact that people have always assumed that laughter is good for your health (along with an apple a day and a breath of fresh air), but little has been done to analyze this in depth.

There is also a "bad" humor (same as there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol). This category includes the approach that makes people feel miserable about themselves, or angry, upset and vengeful, as well as the skeptic and cynic attitude, which is often the front for deep depression and indifference. Jokes directed at other people are also "bad" humor, along with ethnic, racial and sexist jokes, which are born out of frustration, not out of optimism and cheerfulness. Also, people who often make fun of themselves hide a low self esteem, which is only worsened with every funny joke they invent (there is a good reason why clowns and successful comedy actors are often perceived as sad and depressed in their real lives).

If you decide to use laughter as a therapeutic method, the first obvious issue is that there are no harmful side effects, and you've got nothing to lose. The second issue is that you can actually improve your sense of humor in time, same as any other skill or ability, by constant training and exposure to jokes and comedy. Next time you go to the movies, buy a ticket for a comedy, no matter how dumb the poster looks. When you read the paper, don't forget to check out their daily cartoon too. Spend ten minutes every day reading jokes, and, when you find some you like, share them with your friends. (And when your boss catches you reading jokes instead of working, tell him it's just therapy, he can't stop your from taking your medication at work, right?) Last but not least, try to find the funny side of the small things that happen every day around you - there is always something absurd or plain stupid going on right near you, which may provide five minutes of good laugher, which, in turn, may unblock some arteries and keep the heart attack far away.

John Ryan is the creator of award winning poker software

and in his spare time, he likes to rewrite classic jokes at http://www.jokes-comedy.com

What Is A Healthy Amount Of Sleep For Children?
As parents we are concerned about every aspect of parenting our children. We worry about the amount of nutrients they consume daily, that they receive adequate amounts of exercise and that we?re raising healthy, happy kids. One area that is often overlooked or under-looked as the case may be, is the amount of sleep our children are getting each day. How much sleep do kids need anyway?

wfnn.info Started Coverage on CombiMatrix Helping Save Lives from Health Risks
Summary: http://freestock1.com and http://wfnn.info coverage on CombiMatrix helping save the world from health risks.

Hamilton Beach Encourages Women to Go Red and Lead Heart Healthy Lives - Commitment Extends into 2009 with $850K Donated: Online Push for 'Healthy
Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., has expanded its support for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement into 2009 with a cumulative donation of $850,000 since 2005. The company will promote its "Healthy Hearts Start in the Kitchen(TM)" campaign with interactive outreach that drives traffic to healthy lifestyle tips and recipes available on www.hamiltonbeach.com.

BestofFrisco.com -- New Community and Lifestyle Website Launches in Texas
BestofFrisco.com (BOF) is the newest online lifestyle guide in Frisco, Texas, and is "the best place to be" for advertisers and local consumers. BOF provides locals and travelers alike with the most up-to-date information on Restaurants, Places to Stay, Shopping, Medical and Business Professionals, Services, Weddings and Events, Beauty and Wellness, Real Estate, Local Activities, Community Services, and Kid-Friendly establishments.

Reports Reveal Critical Role of Convenience in Access to Health
Two reports find that convenience is emerging as a major factor for Americans seeking both treatment and insurance.

Swanson Health Products Introduces a New Homeopathic Line of Products
Swanson Health Products has formulated a line of condition-specific homeopathic products including: Obesity & Appetite Control; Arthritis Pain Relief; and Fibromyalgia Relief, among others that contain tried-and-true homeopathic ingredients.

North Suburban Medical Center Upgrades To High-Definition MRI System
North Suburban Medical Center announced today the acquisition of a high-definition magnetic resonance (HDMR) system from GE Healthcare.

Proper Nutrition is Fundamental as a First Step in Optimizing Your Health: Immunocal
Proper nutrition is fundamental to optimizing your health. By eating the right foods, you help supply your body with the proper elements that are needed to ensure superior health.

10 Ways to Heal Your Broken Heart
They say that breaking up is hard to do? and I would agree Losing someone that you love can be one of the most difficult experiences you go through in life

5 Great Tips For Stealing Your Mom?s Heart On Mother?s Day
On Mother?s Day, the best gift you can give your mom is something with a lot of sentimental value That?s why flowers with warm, tender cards are so popular