How Laughter Helps Your Heart

Laugh! Your heart will thank you!

Do you know when they say laughter is the best medicine? Well, it might ACTUALLY be! Okay, we probably would recommend listening to your doctor on that one, but laughter has been shown to have many health benefits.

This month, we've talked about the importance of laughter, and today we are going to be specifically looking at laughter when it comes to your heart.

But, before we do, let's take a peek at what we've learned over the past few weeks:

#1 Laughter Increases Serotonin Levels

Laughter can help your body release more serotonin which can improve your mood and decrease your levels of stress, making it easier to connect with your partner.

#2 Laughter Can Strengthen Your Bond

Humor is one of the first things that can garner attraction in a relationship, and it is those shared laughs that can make it last. Whether it's an inside joke or funny little quarks your partner does, that laughter can help build intimacy and a connection that you cannot get with anyone else.

#3 Laughter Helps You Decrease Pain

Laughter helps your body release endorphins. Endorphins are your body's natural painkillers. They help us generate a sense of security and peacefulness. These things are important in long-term relationships as well as marriages.

#4: Laughter Helps Your Heart

Your mood has a significant impact on your physical health. Stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and loneliness have all been shown to negatively impact your health, including increased rates of heart disease.

Well, just as impactful (albeit in a much more positive sense) is laughter. There are many ways laughter can improve your heart's health, and the AHA (American Heart Association) has even said that these effects can last up to 24 hours.

If that is true, can you imagine if you took a few minutes each day to laugh? Your heart would love you so much! Let's take a look at some of the individual impacts of laughter when it comes to your heart.

LAUGHTER CAN LOWER STRESS HORMONES

We've already discussed how laughter can help your body release positive hormones like endorphins and dopamine. Still, it can also help you lower levels of hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, which are released in times of stress and anxiety.

These hormones can restrict your blood vessels which can be vital during "fight or flight" scenarios but unhealthy for extended periods.

LAUGHTER CAN INCREASE YOUR BLOOD FLOW

Studies also show that laughter can increase blood flow to and from your heart by helping your blood vessels. Laughter can also help with creating nitric oxide, which helps prevent inflammation and plaque buildup, lowering chances of heart disease.

LAUGHTER CAN HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Believe it or not, laughter can help your immune system by assisting in the creation of T-cells, which help your body fight off sicknesses.

Essentially, laughter has similar benefits as cardiovascular workouts; the difference is that sudden bursts of laughter can have immediate effects. So, look for opportunities to laugh!

Monday Motivation

LAUGHTER YOGA

What to do: Yeah, laughter yoga is a thing. We aren't going THAT far with this week's motivation, but we will challenge you to make some dedicated "laughter time" each morning with your partner.

Get up 15 or 20 minutes earlier than you usually would every morning this week and find a quiet place to relax with your partner. You can stretch, meditate, or just sit crisscross applesauce, but focus on laughing with each other for a few minutes every morning.

You can turn on a funny movie, turn on your favorite comedian on Spotify, or literally just look at each other and laugh for no apparent reason.

To goal of this activity is to try and start your day off focused and stress-free. Laughing together can improve your mood, get your blood flowing, and can help you let go of any stress you may be holding on to.

In addition, this can be an excellent opportunity to add some more quality couple time to your relationship!

Date Night Ideas

This week, we tried to come up with ideas to help you share some laughter or to help you get physically active together, both of which can improve your heart!

We've got a little bit of everything in this week's group of date night ideas, and we are DOUBLE DARING you to do at least one of them! That means you HAVE to. That's the rules of double daring! 🤣

Spend some time together and strengthen your heart, both emotionally and physiologically, through laughter!

ARE YOU A MEMBER? Click below to view this week's date night ideas.