Do you feel relaxed after a hearty laugh? Well, there’s a scientific reason behind it. Laughter stimulates blood flow and relaxes the muscles thus reducing your stress levels. Laughter also releases a plethora of beneficial hormones such as serotonin and endorphins while reducing the levels of stress hormones namely epinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline.

Along with reducing stress levels, laughter also has many long-term health benefits.

  • Heal your Heart
    Laughing is good for your heart as it increases the blood flow to the heart and reduces the blood pressure. Studies conducted at the University of Maryland have also shown that blood flow increases when a person is watching a comedy movie as opposed to a stress-inducing film.
  • Live Long
    Laughing may also extend your life. In a study conducted on 53,000 seniors, it was discovered that participants who had a sense of humor have 20 percent less mortality rate as compared to those who constantly brood over their life. Thus, laughter is an essential part of aging well!
  • Sharpens the Mind
    Having a hearty laugh every now and then is good for the brain. According to a study, it was proved that adding humor to classroom instructions lead to higher test scores. According to another study, a group of people who watched comedy video for 20 minutes scored better than the group which sat quietly for 20 minutes before the test.

Seniors suffering from chronic disorders can suffer from depression and anxiety attacks. Therefore, it is important to make it easy for them to indulge in things that make them laugh more.

Here are some tips to keep them healthy and let them enjoy a burst of hearty laughter.

  • Call some friends home – If it is difficult for your parents to walk and go out, you can call over some of their friends who could lift their spirit.
  • Turn on the TV – If your parents are bedridden, they can still enjoy hearty laughter. Turn on the TV and let them watch something funny. With a variety of shows streaming online, there’s always something to watch.
  • Play with pets – Having a pet allow you to enjoy unconditional love. Animals allow us to be in the moment and engage in playful activities. Playing with pets is a source of joyfulness.
  • Watch online videos on YouTube – Don’t have enough time on your hand but still want to have a hearty laugh. Tune in to YouTube and search funny videos. You will find tons of content to choose from.
  • Laughter Yoga Class – Yoga helps calm mind and body. But do you know laughter yoga is fast catching up as the latest fad? Find a class near you or if it is difficult to move out of the home, search for an instructor that provides laughter yoga classes at your home.

While laughter is important, keeping your health under check should be your priority. Utah Doctors At Home offers in home health care services to make it easy for Medicare age patient to receive high-quality elderly care at home.

To know more about in home caregiver services offered by Utah Doctor at Home, call 385-247-0050 today!