If you want to improve the health of your heart, it’s time to head to a comedy club or watch your favorite funny movie again. You could also get together with friends and family members who like to have fun and be silly. Why? Because people who say that laughter is the best medicine just may be onto something.
More research is showing that laughing is good for your heart and that it can bring your blood pressure and heart rate down, both of which can help protect your heart from damage and wear. Laughing isn’t a cure for serious heart issues, of course, but if you want a simple and fun way to give your heart some extra love, laughter can be a great choice.
It Doesn’t Matter What You’re Laughing About
You can laugh at anything that tickles your funny bone, says Ian Weisberg, because your brain and heart don’t care what you’re amused by. It could be a comedy show, silly cat videos, cartoons, or anything else. The goal isn’t to find the “appropriate” object of your laughter, but just to laugh. You can joke with friends or go have a fun adventure with a family member or even by yourself. Anything that gets you laughing and isn’t causing any harm is a good option to boost your heart health.
Forced Laughter Can Work, Too
You may not feel like laughing, but you can force laughter. Just like exercising when you don’t want to, or getting up for work in the morning when it’s still dark outside, you can laugh even if you don’t find something funny. Nearly everyone has faked a laugh in the past to keep the peace or fit in with the crowd. Now, you’ll be doing it for your heart. A lot of people find a laugh-faking exercise to be a little bit ridiculous, which can easily get them laughing for real.
Make Sure You’re Taking Other Steps
It’s important, according to Dr. Ian Weisberg, to take other steps to protect your heart. You don’t want to laugh every day and assume that’s enough. It’s also important for you to get some exercise and move your body, along with eating nutritious food and maintaining a healthy weight. Getting enough sleep matters, too, because your brain needs downtime. But adding laughter into the mix can increase the benefits of what you already do to help keep your heart healthy and strong.
