Humor
A big mystery: the tremendous benefits of laughter.
Humor, the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement, affects how we perceive and respond to life. It enhances the quality of life and may relieve the body from so many health problems. In fact, humans are the only creatures on earth that are endowed with the ability to laugh.
The difference between humor and laughter is that humor is a perceptual process while laughter is a behavioral response. People of all ages and cultures respond to humor. The majority of people are able to experience humor, i.e., to be amused, to laugh or smile at something funny, and thus they are considered to have a sense of humor. The hypothetical person lacking a sense of humor would likely find the behavior induced by humor to be inexplicable, strange, or even irrational. Though ultimately decided by personal taste, the extent to which a person will find something humorous depends upon a host of variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, intelligence and context.
Regular laughter sessions can have important effects on our health and well being. For instance, laughter is considered to be a stress buster and researchers found a direct link between laughter and healthy function of blood vessels. Laughter causes the dilatation of the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, and increases blood flow. It also has been shown to lead to reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. When laughing the brain also releases endorphins that can relieve some physical pain. Laughter also boosts the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T-cells, a type of cells that lead to a stronger immune system.
Since laughter does effect the body, mind and spirit the only thing you have to do to lead a happy life is LAUGH, as simple as that.
Source: Wikipedia
Comprehension:
- The expression "stress buster" means:a. something that stops stress,b. something that produces stress.
- Laughter strengthens:a. the immune systemb. the muscles
- The response to humor is the same everywhere in the world.a. Trueb. False
- A person lacking the sense of humor may find it difficult to get along with other people.a. Trueb. False
source : www.englishpages.com
