Laughter

They say laughter is the best medicine and they may be right! Workshops
across the country are teaching people the benefits of laughing and it's no
joke.

You'd never know it by looking at her, but Bettina Ortiz is under a lot of
stress taking care of her elderly parents. She's learning to use laughter to
cope.

"I had zillions of things on my mind but I feel much better now much less
stress and very happy, " Ortiz said.

Karen Fink, is a nurse and a laughter leader. Despite how silly her class
looks, this type of laughter is not based on humor. They're learning to
simulate laughing. But soon the giggles start and it's contagious.

And laughter affects your body.

"Helping respiration, helping breathing, helping the cardiac system, blood
flow, improving morale it helps your immune system," Fink said.

So if the health benefits of laughing aren't enough for you, laughing ten
minutes a day can burn an additional 40 calories -- about the size of a good
piece of chocolate.

Selma Holden is a fourth year medical student. She's learning laughter to
help her future patients.

"I think that if you are able to be happy and relaxed your healing process
is accelerated," Holden said.

Laughter releases endorphins, which can aid in pain relief. It also reduces
the stress hormone cortisol and it might be the first "medicine" to try.

"When you are feeling down or are feeling ill, the best thing to do would be
to laugh, it changes your whole perspective, Fink said."

Related Links

World Laughter Tour          http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/
Laughter Clubs                   http://www.laughterclubs.com/