Laugh More, Age Less WHY LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOU
As we age, we’re told to wear sunscreen, eat more vegetables, take vitamins, and even walk more — all in hope that our internal clocks will slow down and we will age better. But something as simple as laughter could actually be one of the easiest ways to slow the ticking clock of aging. Scientists have long known that laughter can be therapeutic and help us live longer. It has been shown to reduce wear and tear on our bodies and improve our relationships. A Norwegian study found that those who prioritized humor were more likely to live past 70 than those who didn’t laugh often. At a biological level, laughter can reduce tension in your muscles and activate a powerful stress-relief response from your brain by releasing dopamine. Just one chuckle may even improve your breathing
and heart function! In fact, laughing can work wonders for the heart. One study showed that laughter therapy helped reduce the blood pressure and cholesterol levels of its participants. Their blood circulation improved, too. Studies have also found that regular laughter can help strengthen your immune system, and it has long-term benefits for those with respiratory conditions. In addition to your body, laughter is also good for your social life. (And we don’t mean that people will want to spend time with you if you have all the good jokes!) Throughout history, laughter has been an evolutionary sign of understanding. When there are language barriers, laughing together can create camaraderie and a tighter bond between people of different cultures. The dopamine release that comes with laughter aids in stress relief and creates
powerful memories that can improve your mood and strengthen friendships.
Of course, laughter has its downfalls, too. Laughing at someone else’s expense is detrimental to their health and can harm your relationships. So, stick to light jokes and actively seek out shows, cartoons, or people who make you laugh. You’ll feel good, and your body will be pretty happy, too.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL “It is so important not to wait for this condition to get worse.”
“Before coming to see Dr. Alff, I was suffering with severe numbness and a dead feeling in my hands and feet. My balance was horrible every time I would stand and walk. I had to go everywhere with my walker, and I needed to keep my feet apart when I walked so I wouldn’t trip over myself. I couldn’t drive anymore because I couldn’t feel the pedals, and my girls had to take me places and do more things for me. My greatest fear was losing my independence, but that’s where I was headed. I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy by my primary doctor, and he referred me to a neurologist in Camarillo. I made an appointment, and the soonest they could see me was three months from that day. I knew that if I didn’t get help soon, I would be in a wheelchair before that appointment. I came across an article in the Camarillo Acorn about an evaluation to find out if I was a candidate for treatment without medication or surgery for my neuropathy. I showed my daughter the article,
and she researched the practice and found that the doctor is a chiropractor. Back in my day, chiropractor was a bad word! At that point, I was spiraling down fast, and I needed to figure out what could be done. We called and spoke to Samantha. She listened to my concerns and helped me find an appointment time right away to meet with Dr. Alff. The entire experience and program have been excellent. I did EVERYTHING I was asked to do, and now my life has been restored. I can walk again, and I no longer need my walker. I don’t use my walker in the house anymore, and I am able to walk longer distances outside. It is just amazing. I am trying to get my two friends who have neuropathy to get an evaluation. The education you receive here is excellent, as well. I am much more aware and knowledgeable of how to stay healthy. It is so important not to wait for this condition to get worse. If you do everything Dr. Alff asks you to do, you will get better. This has changed my life.”
–Lucy R., Camarillo
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