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effort to watch more comedy movies.

Some doctors have even gone as far as to recommend that the human body needs a minimum of 15 minutes of laughter daily in order to help with normal body function.

Another mystery surrounding the laughter exercises is that it appears that appropriate types of humor and laughter are better for you than other types. Laughing at someone else's expense or through sarcasm generally has fewer benefits than a good honest hearty laugh with a group of friends.

Laughter not only boosts the good chemicals in the body, but reduces the bad chemicals released by negative stress, such as epinephrine, cortisol, dopamine, and adrenaline.

Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore have also conducted studies on the effects of laughter on coronary heart disease. Their results have concluded that those with a better sense of humor and who laugh regularly are less likely to develop heart disease and that those that do develop it often have much milder symptoms than those who are generally negative and have less of a sense of humor. The cardiologists who took part in this study believe that laughter somehow promotes the growth of endothelium, a protective barrier that lines blood vessels and prevents cholesterol build-up in coronary arteries. The break-down of endothelium is one of the first stages of heart disease and leaves the coronary system open for further and progressive damage.

Trials at other medical universities have shown that fake laughter carries almost as many benefits of genuine laughter. This has given rise to the popularity of new physical fitness groups and clubs that center their exercises around the use of laughter in order to promote well being.

In any case the verdict from the medical community seems to be in; we may not know the why's and how's yet, but for those looking to increase overall health and prevent future health problems, laughter may indeed be the best medicine.

Learn more about this author, Mike Gagnon.
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