Page 25 - Boca Club News - October '23

Boca Club News, Page 25

Wilde Times: Laughter and Longevity

By Larry Wilde her doctor. One of her chief complaints was feeling tired all cardiovascular benefits as strenuous exercise. A good laugh
On his 99th birthday, comedian the time. The doc said, “You need to get more exercise.” can actually burn off calories. It also stimulates circulation
George Burns was asked, “What is She said, “Nonsense. I get more exercise now than I ever did.” and aids digestion.
the secret to a long life?” He asked her to explain. In a study of patients subjected to prolonged
Burns replied, “Keep breathing.” “I’m forgetful,” she said, “so I log several miles a day just hospitalization, laughter improved morale, decreased anxiety
I would amend his answer and walking around the house looking for my keys and glasses. And and restored a feeling of wellness and calm.
add, “Keep laughing.” since I’m not as coordinated as I used to be, I drop things. So For many, laughter reduces stress better than vodka or
More and more, medical research I’m constantly bending, stretching and lifting. And my bladder Valium. Plus it’s salt-free, low calorie, polyunsaturated, you
shows that a good sense of humor is is weak, so I have to run to the toilet a million times day and don’t need a prescription, it doesn’t cost a dime, and there
linked with longevity. The Bible says, “A merry heart doeth night.” are no harmful side effects.
good like a medicine,” and studies now bear out that pearl “I see,” said the doctor. “Well, no wonder you’re so tired.” For the chronologically advantaged, here’s the best part:
of ancient wisdom. Several years ago at a health conference, I had the pleasure Laughter can actually slow the aging process.
Today we recognize that one of the greatest assets humans of spending time with Norman Cousins, the former editor of How do you put more humor into your life? Start with
can possess in their golden years is a keen sense of humor. Saturday Review. His book, “Anatomy of an Illness,” was a this 5-step plan:
It’s a natural tonic for mind, body and spirit always at the best seller. In it he described how he survived a life-threatening 1. Make a personal Humor First Aid Kit for yourself.
ready to help us handle the myriad challenges of advancing ailment by incorporating belly laughs into his daily medical Nobody knows what makes you laugh better than you do.
years. regimen. Assemble a collection of everything that really tickles your
Speaking to a group of seniors not long ago, I asked them, With the support of his doctors, he devised a plan to help funny bone. Humorous books, jokes, stories, movies, TV
“What’s funny about aging?” combat his illness by including large doses of laughter. The shows, cartoons, and magazine and newspaper clippings.
Someone in the back shouted, “Nothing!” Then results were revelatory. Ten minutes of belly laughs produced These will become a reliable source of laughter whenever
somebody up front yelled, “Everything!” The audience an anesthetic effect that allowed at least two hours of pain-free you need a lift.
laughed and applauded, except for a few sourpusses. Some sleep. Sedimentation rates taken before and after those laughter 2. Laugh out loud. Big belly laughs are the best way to
people would rather die than laugh. And many do. As Phyllis exercises provided quantifiable evidence that laughing is indeed give your funny bone—and your entire system—a good
Diller used to say, “Most grumps don’t live longer—it just good medicine. workout. And since the physical act of laughing is so
seems like it.” When Cousins reported his findings in the New England beneficial, aim for at least 15 rib-rocking laughs every day.
We all face a multitude of unavoidable hurdles in later Journal of Medicine his article prompted more than 3,000 Laughing out loud is contagious; it spreads the joy around.
years–coping with sudden change, learning to live with letters of support from doctors who had observed similar results Considering that Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Jerry Lewis
disability, dealing with physical and mental infirmity, in their patients. have each spent nine decades laughing and making others
grappling with loss and loneliness. None of these issues Cousins’s book opened new avenues in medical research laugh, it’s entirely possible that spreading laughter around
is particularly funny. But that’s what humor is for–to help and forever changed the thinking about the connection between might also contribute to longevity.
take the bite out of adversity. A humorous attitude helps humor and health. He told me, “If negative forces like tension 3. Laugh at yourself. The person who can chuckle at
one maintain a positive perspective, which in turn helps and stress could weaken the body to the point where it could his or her own expense will never run out of good comedy
to minimize setbacks. Having the ability to face life with a succumb to illness, then positive forces—confidence, joy, material.
light-hearted attitude allows us to manage stress. It provides faith, hope, love, laughter and the will to live—might have the 4. Try to see the funny side of life—no matter how
the resilience we need to roll with the inevitable punches. opposite effect.” He also said that humor interrupts the panic unfunny things might seem. Comedian Bob Hope said,
I received an e-mail recently from a woman who said her cycle of illness and helps to restore a feeling of well-being. “I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost
doctor told her the best medicine to get through her cancer Since then, medical research has shown that laughter has unbearable tears into something bearable—even hopeful.”
was to laugh. She embraced his advice, and the good news a positive effect on immunity, too. In fact, its benefits appear 5. Expose yourself to something funny every day. Even if
is, she’s now on the road to recovery. to be boundless. you have to take off all your clothes and look in the mirror. But
And a friend who’s got a great knack for seeing things Cousins called laughter “internal jogging.” And studies before you cry, consider the words of comedian Phyllis Diller:
funny recently told me about her annual Medicare visit with have confirmed that belly laughs produce some of the same “If you don’t have wrinkles, you haven’t laughed enough.”

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