The Anacortes Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor Anacortes

Laugh It Up!

Stress reduction image.

For years, Readers Digest has featured the column “Laughter, the Best Medicine.” It contains jokes, riddles and humorous musings designed to tickle the funny bone. But just how important is laughter to our everyday health?

Turns out that when we laugh we produce natural killer cells which destroy tumors and viruses. Plus there’s an increase in the production of Gamma-interferon (a disease-fighting protein), T-cells (important for our immune system) and B-cells (which make disease-fighting antibodies). Besides lowering blood pressure, laughter increases oxygen in the blood, which also facilitates healing.

Laughter helps us to deal with stress, cope with loss, work through tragedy, hide our embarrassment and calm our fears. Laughter helps the body relax. It lowers blood pressure, increases immune system functioning and assists in warding off disease.

In terms of mental health, laughter:
  • Helps us connect with others – humor is often used as a means to help us collectively cope with grief, fear or loss

  • Makes us more productive – happy people have more energy

  • Releases negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, resentment, depression

  • Increases the likelihood that we will feel happy

  • Releases endorphins in the brain that help you to feel good

Did you also know that laughter is a form of aerobic exercise? You may even feel fatigued if you laugh continuously for any length of time! Just remind yourself to laugh well and often in order to experience the aerobic benefits of laughter.

What steps can you take to increase the amount of laughter in your life?
  • Surround yourself with positive upbeat people who laugh a lot – laughter really is contagious!

  • Find out what makes you laugh – is it funny movies, watching the comedy channel, reading funny material? Whatever it is – do it more often!

  • Don’t take yourself, or anyone else, or even life so seriously.

Always remember, happiness is your birthright… so laugh and when you do, laugh loud and often!

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Dr. Ben Asks some important questions of interest to Anacortes residents - Chiropractor Anacortes Dr. Ben Asks...

How long does it take to form a bone spur?
Many who begin chiropractic care think their problem happened "last week when you bent over funny." But pictures of the spine tell a different story. Chiropractors know it can take your body years to deposit the calcium necessary to form a bone spur. It's your body's response to stress due to gravity or joint malfunction. And chiropractic care can help.
How do most people deal with vertebral subluxation complexes?
First, they try to ignore them. When they don't, they go to the medicine cabinet to stop their brain from feeling the symptom. Later, back surgery may be threatened. Sadly, it's not until this later stage that they consult our Anacortes chiropractic office. Yet, even with the delay, most are delighted by the results produced by today's chiropractic care. Contact us and let's get started.