MIRTH AS MEDICINE: LAUGHTER REALLY IS HEALTHY

Cynics, scholars, comedians, candidates, reporters, writers, philosophers and just about everyone else from Plato to Groucho has used humor at one time or another. Every wit, wag, pundit, punster and one-liner champion has tried his hand at humor.

Humor is being applied in business to reduce stress and prevent burnout.

More and more, successful companies are discovering the value of using humor in all aspects of business to make achieving their goals fun. It has been used for marketing, team building and improving customer relations and employers have used it to promote collegiality in the workplace. Why is humor used in staff meetings, newsletters, sales meetings, board meetings, memos, bulletin boards, waiting rooms, break rooms and even bathrooms? The average adult laughs 17 times a day and although this may seem to be a second nature type of response, it is actually a complex "learned" response that involves many of the same skills used in solving problems. Careful measurements of the electrical activity within the brain have shown a similarity between the two processes.

The positive psychological and emotional effects of humor are now being recognized by health professionals. Humor is a powerful technique for eliminating unhealthy feelings. Everyone has experienced the pleasurable feeling and lightness that follows deep belly laughter. When we experience the emotional effects of deep laughter, anxiety, depression and anger are transiently reduced or eliminated.

Some have described laughter as "jogging of the internal organs." Many patients suffering from debilitating, painful disease have attested to the relief that they get from several minutes of deep belly laughter. So, if you are a health professional, use humor liberally as it is inexpensive, relatively risk-free and it may even serve as a coping tool for you in some uncomfortable situations. If you are a patient or family member and you could use a bit of relief, be receptive.

Choose to laugh.

Hardness yields to laughter, and irritation and resentment slip away.

Relaxation ensues and it focuses attention.

Improved attention expands awareness.

Awareness promotes insight.

Insight improves understanding.

Understanding invites peace.

Peace brings happiness.

Happiness is a choice- and a virtue too.

Web Resources

* HumorMatters Home Page: www.humormatters.com This site will provide links to 240 plus humorous sites on the world wide web.

* American Association for Therapeutic Humor: www.Ideanurse.com

This site is committed to advancing our knowledge and understanding of humor and laughter as it relates to healing and well-being.

Dr. Scott Gibbs is a Cape Girardeau neurosurgeon and editor-in-chief of Mosby's Medical Surfari. E-mail questions to drgibbs@semissourian.com or write in care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699.