WHY LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOU Laugh More, Age Less
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 shows, cartoons, or people who make you laugh. You’ll feel good, and your body will be pretty happy, too.
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.
What ’s Coming Up
AT THE VAN DYCK LAW EDUCATION CENTER
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP Dates: April 13, April 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, and June 22 Time: 10–11 a.m. At Van Dyck Law, we know it’s not just health care professionals who care for people suffering from dementia. This support group is for all the family members, the impromptu carers, and anyone else who is in regular contact with someone with dementia. We know just how hard it is to grapple with a loved one who has dementia, and we want you to know you’re not alone in that struggle. This event is also virtual for now. If you have any questions or concerns about the subject material of these offerings from the Van Dyck Law Education Center, or you just want to know how to sign up, check our website at VanyDyckFirm.com or reach out to Leslie@VanDyckFirm.com. We look forward to seeing you in the coming months, even if it’s over a computer screen!
Over the next three months, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn valuable information from the Van Dyck Law Education Center. While our class offerings for this quarter aren’t as plentiful as they have been in previous months, we believe the classes we do offer can positively impact a wide variety of people. So, if you’re interested in what’s going on at the Education Center, read on.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA SEMINAR Dates: April 27, May 4, May 18, June 1, and June 15 Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This seminar is specifically designed to benefit CALAs, LHNAs, ADCs, nurses, social workers, and certified case managers. It’s a required class for those who want to obtain a Certified Dementia Practitioner Designation, and it will count as eight CE hours to that end. Like many of our Education Center events recently, this event will be held virtually.
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