 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Laughter is the Best Medicine - April 21, 2011
(1 minutes: 59 seconds)
 WMA (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] Have you ever laughed so hard it hurt?! What
makes you laugh? When and with whom do you laugh the most? Laughter truly is
good medicine as there are many physical, mental and social benefits to
laughing. Therefore, it is important to seek out and take advantage of
opportunities to laugh every day. Laughing not only improves your mood and
emotional state, but it also has been linked to decreasing stress hormones,
lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular and respiratory health.
Laughter helps us gain more energy; it lowers anxiety, and improves brain
function. Laughter makes us feel good and it enhances our ability to connect
with others.
You should challenge yourself to look for humor every day. There is usually
something funny, absurd, or silly that happens at school, work, or home. Share
this funny thing with a friend or family member. Figure out what makes you laugh
and put this humor into your everyday surroundings.
Laughing can be contagious! It is important to spend time with people who are
enjoyable and positive to be around. Remind yourself to have fun and to spend
time looking on the bright side of life where you can find and use humor every
day.
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
Back to Thoughts on Aging
|
