As we age, we look for ways to stay young and improve our health. Diet, exercise, and attitude change are high on the list of what we can do for ourselves. So we research a diet we can live with and the type of exercise that will do us the most good in the least amount of time. But attitude change? Now there’s a challenge.

According to emerging research, the ability to laugh may be a key component in long-term health, managing disease, and reducing stress.

This field of study has been given a name, although hard to pronounce – psychoneuroimmunology. It is the study of how psychological factors, the brain, and the immune system interact to influence health.

Author Paul McGhee explains how the body responds to laughter. “When you laugh, especially a hearty laugh, you push out air until you can’t push out any more. And then you take a deep breath and do the same thing.” Some even consider it a great light aerobic exercise due to increased oxygen going into the system. We know humor makes us feel good, but spontaneous laughing seems to be the secret key.

Do you remember the last time you laughed so hard tears came to you eyes? Didn’t that feel great? For those few minutes your brain fooled you into thinking everything was fine. All problems were forgotten, at least briefly. When you stopped laughing, did you wish you could have continued even though your eyes were watering and your stomach was hurting? Those feel-good endorphins were released, and your brain told your body everything was fine. Wouldn’t it be great if we could release those endorphins on a whim?

In the book Anatomy of an Illness, author Norman Cousins documented the first case of how humor can positively affect a disease. Cousins was stricken with a very painful disease, and during his illness, he discovered that 15 minutes of hardy laughter could produce two hours of pain-free sleep. “Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.” Give it a try, it may work for you, and it doesn’t cost an office call.

The following are a few ideas on how to add humor and laughter to your life:
• Hang out with people who make you chuckle. Take them to lunch. It also aids digestion.
• Rent a favorite comedy movie or TV series and watch it with family or someone else who will enjoy it.
• Listen to a funny audio book or podcast in your car for instant smiles or laughs (available free at local libraries).
• Clip giggle-inducing comic strips and post for all to enjoy.
• A funny joke can make a welcome text and a good way to stay in touch.
• A giggle box or laughing bag is and inexpensive gift to yourself or any one you wish to share laughter with (available at Nick Nackery or online).

As a closing thought, I share an excerpt of a poem written by my friend, Joe Hatfield.
Laughter is a gift from God
A gift that we all need
To share a giggle with a friend
Is a noble gift indeed.

Carol Kissinger is a member of the planning committee for the Mid-America Institute on Aging, co-sponsored by the University of Southern Indiana and SWIRCA & More. More information is at http://health.usi.edu/chaw/default.asp.