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Open your mouth... Ha! Ha! Ha!HEALTHY EXERCISE
Deepa Natarajan Lobo
Last Updated IST
bindaas Sushmita Sen
bindaas Sushmita Sen

After all, tomorrow is World Laughter Day (May 2) and what better day to drown your worries in a pool of joy. On the occasion of World Laughter Day, Metrolife lists out some health benefits of laughter

*   It lowers blood pressure.
*   It brings down stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
*   It increases the response of tumour and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells.
*   Research has shown that laughter leads to a general increase in activity in the immune system and strengthens it.
*   Belly laughter (deep and loud laughter) empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect, which comes about by deep breathing. This is highly beneficial especially for those suffering from respiratory diseases.
*   Laughter provides cardiac exercise and relaxes muscles as well. It exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward.
These are just a few benefits of laughter. As a popular saying goes, ‘The most wasted of all days is one without laughter’, go ahead and make every day a World Laughter Day!

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(Published 30 April 2010, 18:52 IST)