Back problems are much more common than you might think.

Back disability will affect almost every single person on this planet at one time or another. The fifth most common complaint that physicians have from the patient is to do with low back pain.

It’s really sad that a lot of people think that there is not much that can be done about their back problems.

Back problems can be very debilitating. Back pain can restrict you so severely that you can lose your job. If the sport you are playing is very physical, you may have to stop it altogether. If you cannot do the same things that your friends can do your social life will be restricted. Another part of your life that may suffer is your sex life.

What is the solution?

A lower back workout can give you the best chance of maintaining a healthy back.

Of course laughter can help too!  Don’t forget that … and it is free!

Have you or someone you know had an experience of pain relief through laughter? We would love to hear about it.

Feel free to add your comment in the comment box below

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Everyday you must be laughing for different reasons. Have you ever noticed, how you feel relaxed after laughing? There are a number of health benefits of laughing and that’s why, laughter is stated to be the best medicine.

Every person laughs several times a day for different reasons – after hearing a joke, watching a comedy movie or reading a comic book. Humor is one of the important senses that human being is blessed with. Laughing expresses a feeling of happiness. Humor and laughter are contagious and they cause a cumulative effect of amusement and joy.

In addition, they offer a number of  positive health benefits.

Laughter makes it easier for us to cope with different challenges in life. It improves and strengthens our immune system and helps prevent a number of diseases.  Laughter therapy can be used to cure several diseases such as hypertension, ulcers, arthritis, stroke, diabetes and even heart diseases. It offers good relaxation and helps you relieve stress and depression. Read on to know about benefits of laughing in detail.

Benefits of Laughing

Get a free list of 47 Laughter Yoga exercises!

Laughing is not just related to facial expressions, but it causes a number of chemical changes within the body. Good hearty laughter helps release enzymes and hormones that are helpful for normal functioning of various organs. This is due to a connection between laughing and stimulation of brain and different glands. Laughter enhances the body to release natural antihistamines. It also activates T-cells, a natural anti-biotic produced in the body. It helps boost the immune system and fight infections. It prevents numerous diseases by strengthening the immune system.

Laughter reduces the levels of certain hormones, namely cortisol, growth hormone, epinephrine and dopac, which are associated with stress response. Thus it helps  relieve stress, depression, anxiety, grief, anger and irritation.

Laughing also decreases pain by releasing a hormone, endorphins. It improves our attentiveness, pulse and heart rate.

Laughing is proven to be very beneficial for the people suffering from hypertension. It helps lower the blood pressure to normal. Laughing causes deeper breathing and increase in blood flow, due to which oxygen and essential nutrients are supplied to all body parts.

Laughter is a good workout for respiratory, abdominal, leg, back and facial muscles. It tones intestinal functioning, massages abdominal organs and strengthens abdominal muscles. This activity is advantageous for digestion as well as absorption. Laughter also helps burn calories and is beneficial for weight loss.

In addition to

physical health benefits of laughing

it offers several

psychological health benefits .

It boosts self-confidence and gives mental strength to cope with conflicts and challenges in life. It also helps us come out of anxiety and depression. It improves out mental health and makes us forget all the tensions in our daily busy lives.

Laughing enhances our ability to connect with others. It also causes a number of behavioral changes. It makes us energized and increases our interest in daily activities.

Laughing also offers many social benefits. A person with a smiling face is always popular amongst a group. It lessens the distance between two individuals and brings them together. It increases healthy communication with others.

Laughter positively affects many aspects of your life , including your health, well-being and energy, leading to a healthy, quality life. So always smile, it improves your face value too.

By Reshma Jirage

Change your Attitude in 4 Days

And when you make a mistake, learn the lesson in that mistake and laugh at yourself. In fact people who can’t laugh at themselves are not only more negative, but they’re also more susceptible to cancer, stroke, and heart disease. … As boxing champ Sugar Ray Robinson said, “To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will.

Top 10 Funniest Websites

If you want to see your neigbour up to something then it is all here! 4.Ask Uncle Ralph- This website is radically funny. It is about real questions and real answers from the “experts” to make you laugh! Go on to post yours! … You will find weird news so weird it is out of this world! 7.Comedy Central – A another popular haunt for people looking for comedy shows. 

Laughter quotes – Best Laughter Quotes Laughter Sayings Phrases Poems

Laughter is subcategorized into various groupings depending upon the extent and pitch of the laughter: giggles, clicks (which can be almost silent), chortles, chuckles, hoots, cackles, sniggers and guffaws are all types of laughter. 

Technorati Tags: Chronic Illness, exercises, health benefits of laughter, humor and health, laughing, laughter therapy research, pain relief

Laughter is good medicine for you and you should prescribe it to yourself as much as possible. This is definitely stress buster material.

Check out some ways that you can laugh and release stress at the same time :

You must realize that having laughter in your life can increase your energy and take away any negative vibes that you may be feeling. When you laugh, you release the pent-up anger and frustration that has been bottled up inside you from being stressed. You can find some good comedy shows on television that are really funny.

Think of some situations where the outcome ended up being pretty humorous. You can think on those and get a kick out of them. Let go of the complaining and murmuring.

- Go take in a comedy club. Check out the up and coming comedians at local venues in your area.

- Smile more often. If you’re not used to doing this, then start now. Did you know that smiling can be contagious?

Learn to spread your laughter and joy to others who need it. Not only will it help them, it will also help you.

Meditation is also a good choice for beating stress. You could spend 30 minutes to 1 hour per day doing meditation.

Here are some further bits of information and interesting links that you may wish to follow:

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and Mindfulness Applied to Chronic Illness. Kevin, 39, is a meditating friend of mine who has been handicapped with Reiter’s Syndrome and Multiple Schlerosis for many years. 

Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Through in-person interviews and dramatized video vignettes that document the stories of people who recovered from chronic illness – including a five-year-old boy born with cerebral palsy, an osteopathic doctor with a brain tumor, … More important, several forms of CAM that incorporate information-medicine principles – such as meditation, deep breathing, massage therapy, and yoga – showed the highest increase in use among Americans in the last five years. 

Meditate Your Pain Away – Benefits of Meditation

The difference between previous studies and the new one lies in that the former have shown that teaching chronic pain patients to meditate is beneficial. But, very few studies of these have looked at pain processing in healthy people.

Living With Mental Illness – Anxiety Problems – How To Treat Anxiety

Different meditation techniques such as Thai Chi and Yoga are proven to have significant effect on treatment of anxiety problems. Regular meditation brings relief from the anxiety and stress related to them. 

Tools For Dealing With A Chronic Illness Or Life In General

A chronic illness provides you with an opportunity for reflection and self realization. Feeding your soul is just as important as feeding your body. It is vitally important that you find ways to nourish and replenish your soul. 

Living With Mental Illness – Effective Use of Relaxation Methods

Meditate daily. Practicing meditation daily can help keep one calm. It is the oldest way of keeping the mind still and peaceful. It has the power to induce inner peace and control anxiety at odd times. Try Acupuncture.

Article By: Scott Wells Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Scott Wells suggests www.drugabusefocus.com/117/ for those battling a drug or alcohol addiction or for those who love someone who is. Compassion is virtuous. Share or read alcohol or drug abuse stories today.

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