Re: Laughter really is the best medicine!

[Guest guest]

I recommend Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for a guffawing good time!

I read the book 20 years ago, and laughed all the way through it. Now there is

a movie,

which we finally got around to watching the other day.

It is pure entertainment.

The mice are really in control of earth, which was destroyed to make way for an

intergalactic bypass. Them the earthling protaganist and his space buddy

hitchhike a ride

off the planet and go whizzing through space on an improbability drive.

>

> Laughter – really is the best medicine!

> a study into the effect of laughter and depression

>

>

> A daily dose of laughter may be good for the you because just like exercise,

it makes

the blood vessels work more efficiently, American researchers reported recently.

Stress

and depression, on the other hand, can raise the risk of dying from heart

failure, another

study found.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Orlando,

Florida, the

two studies showed how psychological factors could affect a person's health.

> ..I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes

of genuine belly

laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of

pain-free sleep.

" We don't recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that

you try

to laugh on regular basis. Thirty minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15

minutes

of laughter on a daily basis is probably good for the vascular system, " said Dr

of the University of land School of Medicine in Baltimore.

> In the experiment, researchers showed two movies, one humorous and the other

stressful to 20 healthy volunteers and monitor the blood vessels' reaction. The

researchers

specifically looked at the endothelium, the linking of the vessels, and found

that the blood

flow was reduced 35% in 14 of the 20 volunteers after watching the stressful

movie clips.

However in 19 of the 20 volunteers who laughed at the funny movie segments,

blood

flowed 22% more freely.

> " The endothelium is the first line in the development of the atherosclerosis

or

hardening of the arteries, so, given the result of our study, it is conceivable

that laughing

may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of

cardiovascular

disease " . said.

> " The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium is similar to the benefit

we might

see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains and muscle tension

associated with

exercise " .

>

> Anatomy of an Illness

> In his famous book, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins described his fight

against a

disease for which doctors had no known cure or treatment. He was told that he

has little

chance, if any of surviving. Hearing this, Cousins decided to took matter into

his own hand

and started to plan his own recovery plan, including laughter and affirmative

emotion like

love, faith and hope. He also took a great deal of vitamin C, which he read

would be

beneficial for his condition.

> He said, " I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly

laughter had

an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.

When the

pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion

picture

projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free

interval. " He

watched marx brothers films.

> Cousins also believed his body chemistry was enhanced up to the stage that

inflammation from his disease actually decreased markedly several hours after

each

laughing episode. Despite his doctor's grim pronouncements that he would never

survive,

he turned his back on heavy medication and went to cure himself of his disease.

An

achievement that surprised all his doctors and the medical community.

> His famous line is, " Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery

always is "

>

> Depression the best poison?

> If laughter helps increase blood flow and in Norman Cousin's case heal him

from his

disease, negative emotion like stress or depression could lead to death,

especially for

people who currently suffer from illness.

> In a study done by Dr. Wei Jiang and colleagues from Duke University in

North

Carolina, it was found that heart failure patients who have mild depression had

44%

greater risk of dying. The study was done on 1,005 volunteers.

> " This adverse association of depression and increased long-term mortality

was

independent of other factors, including age, marriage, cardiac function and the

root cause

of the heart failure, " Jiang said.

> " Approximately half of all patients with heart failure will die within five

years of

diagnosis, and we believe that our study appears to identify a group of these

patients who

are at a higher risk for dying. "

> Jiang said it is not clear why, but he said patients with depression tend

not to exercise

or take medications properly.

> " Also, depressed patients tend to make unhealthy lifestyle choices in such

areas a diet

and smoking, " she said.

>

>

> The Power of Your Emotion

>

> Positive attitudes and ability to handle emotions have been shown to

strengthen our

ability to fight disease.

>

>

>

> Faith and Healing

>

> Medical community are slowly embracing the fact that faith can do wonders.

>

> • Laughter -really is the best medicine!

>

> Laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the

risk of

cardiovascular disease

>

> • What does faith has to do with healing

>

> Religious faith not only promotes overall good health, but also aids in the

recovery from

serious illness • Love and healing

>

> In Yale University, a study of 194 heart attacks patients found that patients

who claimed

to have emotional support were 3 times more likely to be alive 6 months after

the attack

than the one without it.

> • Proofs that faith can heal

>

> In a 1997 study in India, Hindus who prayed regularly were 70% less likely to

have

coronary heart disease.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Laughter and faith in life and community are very important to healing.

I certainly have no quibble with that. We may find it in different ways, of

course.

I am starting to meditate again, which is very relaxing. We used to go to the

synagogue

more frequently than we have in recent years. In my last few years working in

engineering, I found the ritual of setting aside a day of rest (Friday night to

Saturday nite)

was critical in reducing stress and regaining perspective. Of course, I finally

left

engineering entirely because after 15 years, I had had enough! So I went to

law school.

lol

>

> Laughter – really is the best medicine!

> a study into the effect of laughter and depression

>

>

> A daily dose of laughter may be good for the you because just like exercise,

it makes

the blood vessels work more efficiently, American researchers reported recently.

Stress

and depression, on the other hand, can raise the risk of dying from heart

failure, another

study found.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Orlando,

Florida, the

two studies showed how psychological factors could affect a person's health.

> ..I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes

of genuine belly

laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of

pain-free sleep.

" We don't recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that

you try

to laugh on regular basis. Thirty minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15

minutes

of laughter on a daily basis is probably good for the vascular system, " said Dr

of the University of land School of Medicine in Baltimore.

> In the experiment, researchers showed two movies, one humorous and the other

stressful to 20 healthy volunteers and monitor the blood vessels' reaction. The

researchers

specifically looked at the endothelium, the linking of the vessels, and found

that the blood

flow was reduced 35% in 14 of the 20 volunteers after watching the stressful

movie clips.

However in 19 of the 20 volunteers who laughed at the funny movie segments,

blood

flowed 22% more freely.

> " The endothelium is the first line in the development of the atherosclerosis

or

hardening of the arteries, so, given the result of our study, it is conceivable

that laughing

may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of

cardiovascular

disease " . said.

> " The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium is similar to the benefit

we might

see with aerobic activity, but without the aches, pains and muscle tension

associated with

exercise " .

>

> Anatomy of an Illness

> In his famous book, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins described his fight

against a

disease for which doctors had no known cure or treatment. He was told that he

has little

chance, if any of surviving. Hearing this, Cousins decided to took matter into

his own hand

and started to plan his own recovery plan, including laughter and affirmative

emotion like

love, faith and hope. He also took a great deal of vitamin C, which he read

would be

beneficial for his condition.

> He said, " I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly

laughter had

an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.

When the

pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion

picture

projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free

interval. " He

watched marx brothers films.

> Cousins also believed his body chemistry was enhanced up to the stage that

inflammation from his disease actually decreased markedly several hours after

each

laughing episode. Despite his doctor's grim pronouncements that he would never

survive,

he turned his back on heavy medication and went to cure himself of his disease.

An

achievement that surprised all his doctors and the medical community.

> His famous line is, " Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery

always is "

>

> Depression the best poison?

> If laughter helps increase blood flow and in Norman Cousin's case heal him

from his

disease, negative emotion like stress or depression could lead to death,

especially for

people who currently suffer from illness.

> In a study done by Dr. Wei Jiang and colleagues from Duke University in

North

Carolina, it was found that heart failure patients who have mild depression had

44%

greater risk of dying. The study was done on 1,005 volunteers.

> " This adverse association of depression and increased long-term mortality

was

independent of other factors, including age, marriage, cardiac function and the

root cause

of the heart failure, " Jiang said.

> " Approximately half of all patients with heart failure will die within five

years of

diagnosis, and we believe that our study appears to identify a group of these

patients who

are at a higher risk for dying. "

> Jiang said it is not clear why, but he said patients with depression tend

not to exercise

or take medications properly.

> " Also, depressed patients tend to make unhealthy lifestyle choices in such

areas a diet

and smoking, " she said.

>

>

> The Power of Your Emotion

>

> Positive attitudes and ability to handle emotions have been shown to

strengthen our

ability to fight disease.

>

>

>

> Faith and Healing

>

> Medical community are slowly embracing the fact that faith can do wonders.

>

> • Laughter -really is the best medicine!

>

> Laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the

risk of

cardiovascular disease

>

> • What does faith has to do with healing

>

> Religious faith not only promotes overall good health, but also aids in the

recovery from

serious illness • Love and healing

>

> In Yale University, a study of 194 heart attacks patients found that patients

who claimed

to have emotional support were 3 times more likely to be alive 6 months after

the attack

than the one without it.

> • Proofs that faith can heal

>

> In a 1997 study in India, Hindus who prayed regularly were 70% less likely to

have

coronary heart disease.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Darn, I just got back from Blockbusters and rented a few movies. I

saw this one and passed it up. I'll be sure to check it out next

time I go!

Thanks for the recommendation. I am going to laugh alot today!

Patty

> >

> > Laughter – really is the best medicine!

> > a study into the effect of laughter and depression

> >

> >

> > A daily dose of laughter may be good for the you because just

like exercise, it makes

> the blood vessels work more efficiently, American researchers

reported recently. Stress

> and depression, on the other hand, can raise the risk of dying

from heart failure, another

> study found.

> >