April 14, 2011 is International Moment of Laughter Day!
International Moment of Laughter Day is certainly a day to put a smile on your face! Today is a day to laugh loudly and laugh often. Watch a funny movie, read an amusing book, or just be silly with your friends. It is not the cause of the laughter that matters … but the effect.
Researchers have begun to examine positive emotions and their impact on a person’s health and aging process. Based on the results from a scientific study at the University of Maryland Medical Center, laughter may give a jolt to circulation and have positive effects on the heart. In addition, laughter may increase the body’s production of nitric oxide (a chemical that helps dilate blood vessels).
All of these positive impacts on your health are reason enough to laugh not just today, but every day! So go ahead and be silly and laugh at your own jokes. And don’t forget that laughter is contagious!
