by Pam Ness
A joke suitable for today:
“Do you know all about April 1st?
Yes, I’m fool-y aware of it!”
April 1st is recognized as April Fools Day in America, and some mark the day by playing pranks on others or spreading hoaxes to get a laugh. While kids and teens may be the most enamored with April Fools traditions, there are health benefits to adults and seniors who partake in the fun.
The origins of the celebration are thought to date back to early Roman times, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted, moving the start of the New Year from April 1 to January 1. People who didn’t adapt to the new date were labeled fools. Interestingly, many countries and cultures around the globe currently celebrate a day of silliness around this same time of year. Clearly, an integral part of the human experience is the expression and appreciation of humor. Who doesn’t like a good laugh?
Happily, there is an established connection between humor, laughter, and good health. While humor isn’t a cure-all, there are firmly recognized health benefits of laughter. Physically, laughter increases your intake of oxygen, and this stimulates your organs. More endorphins are then released within your brain, which leads to pleasurable and positive feelings. Laughter also energizes circulation and helps with muscle relaxation, which can alleviate some of our physical feelings of stress.
Laughter is thought to provide long-term health benefits as well. Positive thoughts may help fight stress, and bolster our immune systems due to increased neuropeptides. Laughter can have pain-relief properties, as it can interrupt pain spasms in certain muscle disorders. A recent study has actually shown that the benefits of laughter can help with increasing one’s pain tolerance. Emotionally, regular laughter can help reduce depression and anxiety, and can help us to connect with others. Using humor can often make coping with tricky or uncomfortable situations a little easier.
So, even if we feel we have outgrown the frivolity of celebrating April Fools, it might be worth reconsidering. A good laugh may be just what the doctor ordered!