9 reasons why you should laugh more if you want to increase your lifespan.

(Baonghean.vn) - Hundreds of years ago, it was affirmed that "A smile is the best medicine for human happiness." Later groundbreaking scientific studies have clarified the physiological benefits of humor on health.

Therefore, smile often because a smile is not only for charm and to win over others, but it is also a tonic that helps maintain and protect your health.

1. Build up the immune system.

Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, dopamine, adrenaline, and growth hormone. It also increases endorphins and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of other cells. All of these contribute to a stronger immune system, as well as reducing the physical impact of stress.

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2. Increase muscle mass, decrease fat.

A hearty, unrestrained laugh activates 80 different muscle groups in the body. That's why there's a comparison: one minute of hearty laughter is equivalent to 45 minutes of exercise. Furthermore, hearty laughter burns up to 20% of calories, so if you laugh happily for 10-15 minutes each day, you can burn 50 calories and lose 2 kg a year. Most importantly, laughter can "awaken" muscles that are usually underutilized.

3. Helps relieve pain

Pain can be unpleasant and frightening, but you can do something very simple right then and there: smile. Science has proven that smiling has an immediate pain-relieving effect because it increases the release of positive hormones such as endorphins (natural pain-relieving hormones) and serotonin (mood-regulating hormones). The pain and fear will be significantly reduced.

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4. Reduce Stress

Work or studies can constantly stress you out, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, but a smile can help you regain balance because laughter can lower adrenaline levels – the stress hormone. Additionally, it boosts immunity by reducing negative hormones and increasing positive ones.

5. Promotes lung function

Normally, when you breathe, you breathe shallowly, making it difficult to supply enough air to your lungs. However, laughing helps your body absorb three times more air than usual because your breath becomes much deeper. Especially when you laugh heartily, your nose and mouth open wide, your lungs expand, and your lung capacity increases, making the respiratory system more comfortable than ever, thus boosting lung function.

6. Helps you sleep well and improves digestion.

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Laughter can be considered a form of internal exercise: the heart beats faster, like when running 100 meters, and the lungs expel a large volume of air. The rapid blood flow quickly removes accumulated toxins. Digestion is stimulated by abdominal contractions. Nervous tension is reduced, and the body relaxes thanks to endorphins, a natural morphine released by the brain when we laugh heartily. Afterward, the heart rate slows, blood vessels dilate, and blood pressure decreases. In short, laughter lowers high blood pressure, improves digestion, and promotes better sleep.

7. Good for the cardiovascular system.

A recent study by scientists in the US showed that reading one or two jokes can help blood vessels function better. Medical experts have repeatedly warned that stress negatively affects cardiovascular health.

When faced with a difficult situation, your body releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, chemicals that increase blood pressure, and at the same time, blood vessels dilate 35% more slowly when stressed...

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If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart attack over time. Therefore, doctors often advise patients with high blood pressure to relax as much as possible. In addition, they should combine this with regular physical activity after a day's work.

8. Good for diabetic patients.

Several studies have found that laughter has a positive effect on blood sugar levels. While the exact mechanism is unclear, in experiments conducted on a group of patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that their blood sugar levels were more stable when watching a comedy show compared to listening to a boring lecture.

Another study tracked the effectiveness of laughter therapy on the renin-angiotensin system in patients with type 2 diabetes. The results showed a significant reduction in renin levels with the application of this therapy. This means that laughter may help diabetic patients avoid microvascular complications.

9. Increase lifespan

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According to several recent studies published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, optimistic older adults, those who believe good things will happen, are less likely to die than pessimistic individuals.

In fact, among the 65-85 participants in the study, 55% of the optimistic individuals were less likely to die from any cause than the pessimistic ones. Furthermore, after researchers adjusted for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and other health measures, the optimistic individuals were 71% less likely to die than the pessimistic ones.

Hoa Le

(Synthetic)