Laughter Shown to Improve Our Health and Well Being

We all know that it feels good to laugh. We know that a good comedy can uplift our mood and that laughing with friends can completely change how we feel. In fact, we've all hear the phrase "Laughter is the best medicine." Now a recent study shows that laughter can transform our physical health.

A study was carried out in December 2008 which proved the incredible physical impact that laughing can have. The study showed that laughing can be a powerful immune system booster. In the study, diabetics were shown comic videos and laughed together with hospital staffs on one day. On the other day, they participated in an inpatient diabetes educational programme.

Blood samples were collected before and after watching comedies and again after the lecture time. The changes in gene expression were comprehensively analyzed by microarray technique. Of the 41,000 genes analyzed, the laughter increased the function of (up-regulated) 39 genes. The conclusion is, if you want to boost your immune system, make sure you laugh more.

Another study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore studied the effects of laughter on the cardiovascular system. It was discovered that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. A group of people were shown a funny movie that made them laugh. This caused the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.

When the same group of study volunteers was shown a movie that produced mental stress, their blood vessel lining developed a potentially unhealthy response called vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow.
The benefits of laughing are far reaching. Laughing has previously been found to help fight infections, relieve hay fever, ease pain and help with chronic fatigue.

Here are our top 5 tips to more laughter:

1. Watch comedies - we all have different tastes, so we all need to identify the sorts of comedies that are most likely to make us laugh. We may enjoy stand up, sitcoms or black comedies. Having plenty of opportunities for laughing around can help lift our moods and enhance our life.
2. Spend time with friends that make you laugh - we all know people that whenever we are around them we just feel happy and playful. Spend more time with them!
3. Practice laughing - yes, in all seriousness, practice your laugh for no reason. You can literally fake it until you make it, the more wild and ridiculous you sound trying to laugh the more it will just make you laugh!
4. Practice telling jokes - get some good joke books, and with friends or family you can just say to them, "I have this new joke I've heard, do you want to here it?" Sometimes, the more horrendous the joke is, the more people laugh.
5. Take life less seriously generally - it's so easy to get caught in the habit of thinking we have to take things seriously, but generally speaking, the more serious about our problems, the more serious they become. People will often say, one day we will look back on this and laugh - why not just laugh now!

Alex Howard is author of "WHY ME? My Journey from M.E. to Health and Happiness" and founder of The Optimum Health Clinic, an award winning clinic specialising in M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia based in Harley Street Clinic, London, UK. The clinic has treated over 5,000 patients with M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia in over twenty-five countries around the world, and is currently running a two year clinical trial in conjunction with two top universities. A free information pack, including a 75 documentary about the clinic and its work, can be ordered from http://www.FreedomFromME.co.uk

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Know How to Gain Good Health!

Good health depends on various factors. A good digestive system is known to build immunity. Immunity is considered to be the major factor that affects the health of a person. Almost all the diseases result due to poor immunity or even digestive system. Eating right amount of food and following an exercise refine can help tackle the problem.

Being active and following a healthy diet can help gain good health. It will also ward off diseases. In the present complex scenario, health has become a matter of concern. Not many people are able to keep up the commitments and a healthy lifestyle. It has become increasingly difficult to take time for exercise. Juggling with the daily chores is taking its toll on people. People are wondering how to resolve health related issues. Consuming healthy diet can help keep most of the diseases at bay.

Good health is known to promote general well being. It helps you perform better and also increase your output. A nutritious and healthy diet can certainly increase your efficiency. In this regard, Prebiotics foods can help you immensely.

What are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are nothing but non digestible food ingredients that affect the health of a person. The products ark own to stimulate growth and activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon. Most likely prebiotics are carbohydrates. However, it does not include non-carbohydrates. Theoretically, any antibiotic that can help reduce the number of potentially harmful bacteria and promote good health promoting bacteria or activities, can be categorised as prebiotic.

A prebiotic can increase the number and / or activity of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, as these groups of bacteria are generally known to promote good health. Basically, any product that encourage (or claims to encourage) bifidobacteria are considered a bifidogenic factor.

Health is something everyone should give top priority to. Good health will keep diseases at bay and in turn help reduce unnecessary expenditure that you would be spending on medicines. Everyone is not blessed with good health. Those suffering from low immunity can benefit greatly by using medicines and powder that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. Following some simple guidelines can help gain better health. If you tend to fall sick quite often and are ending up paying huge money on medical bills, you can benefit from these products. They can boost your immunity and promote general well being.

You can certainly work towards gaining better health by using certain health promoting medicines and powder. This can be done by even following a strict diet and exercise regime. In a short period of time, you can gain good health and say goodbye to diseases.

Sadhna D, Expert Author, Platinum author Find out more about Prebiotic foods: Prebiotic foods. Medications for hair loss Directory online: IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sadhna_D

Answers to Fatigue and Tiredness

Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, lack of energy, or exhaustion. Fatigue can be simply a result of a very busy lifestyle, or it may be the symptom of a serious medical condition. Fatigue is different from drowsiness which is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. Drowsiness and lethargy, a feeling of indifference or not caring about what happens, can be symptoms of fatigue.

If you are constantly feeling tired it is important for you to determine whether the symptoms are from lack of sleep, or whether they are physical or muscular tiredness. In some cases, these two may overlap or cause each other.

Fatigue can be a normal and important response to physical exertion, boredom, emotional stress, or lack of sleep. When fatigue is not corrected by sleep, good nutrition, or a reduction in personal stress, it should be assessed by your doctor. Because fatigue is a common complaint, sometimes a potentially serious cause may be overlooked.

There are many possible physical and psychological causes of fatigue, including:

Infection - when you have an infection, the body uses extra energy to fight the infection, which can contribute to fatigue.

Medications - certain medications may also cause drowsiness or fatigue, including antihistamines for allergies, blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills, steroids, and diuretics.

Anemia - important because it may cause fatigue or shortness of breath, and may exacerbate or cause other medical problems, such as a heart condition.

Hypoglycemia - or low blood sugar almost always causes tiredness and can cause chronic tiredness.
Lack of physical exercise - The human body is designed for movement and it needs to move so that blood can circulate properly, muscles are fully utilized and the cells well oxygenated lack of exercise will lead to tissue fatigue and tiredness. Unfit people are more likely to feel tired as they simply don't get enough exercise. Whilst you may feel too exhausted to start any exercise, in time, regular exercise will make you feel less tired and give you more energy. Start out slowly, aiming to eventually do half an hour a day, even if you need to break this half hour into several shorter bursts.

Diet - People who have a well balanced diet tend to sleep better than those who don't. Crash dieting can cause you to have sleeping problems and can leave you feeling tired. Poor diet is likely to bring about a deficiency in important vitamins and minerals. If no cause can be found then take up regular exercise - in the fresh air if you can. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Caffeine - You should not consume alcohol and/or caffeine in the evenings. Caffeine makes us feel more awake, but when the effect runs out it can leave you suddenly deflated and very tired. Coffee, tea and some soft drinks contain caffeine. Gradually eliminate all caffeine drinks over about a three week period an try to stay off caffeine completely for a month. You may be surprised by the improvement in your energy levels and stamina. You may find that stopping caffeine gives you headaches. If this happens, just reduce your caffeine intake more slowly.

Stress - As a consequence of our busy and stressful modern lifestyles, most of us will at some time experience tiredness. However, when stress levels are too high they commonly trigger fatigue - stress and worry are two emotions that most frequently cause tiredness. Stress, pain, anxiety, or depression can cause stress or result in sleep deprivation, causing increased chronic fatigue. If the stress is too great you may need to consider making some significant changes in your lifestyle, career, or general situation. Finding the right work-life balance is a key to beating fatigue completely and forever.

The author is a senior manager and business consultant who's interest in this subject comes from his own personal experience. I hope this information helps. If want any further information on this subject please go to my blog: http://fatigue-answers.blogspot.com

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Sinus Infections Signs and Symptoms

This article will review the common signs and symptoms commonly associated with sinus infections or sinusitis.

Sinusitis is an inflammation or infection of the sinus cavities. You have four different sets of sinuses in your head. They are the Ethmoid, Maxillary, Frontal and Sphenoid sinuses.

Each has it's own set of symptoms associated with it. Each of these sinusitis symptoms will be discussed one sinus cavity at a time.

The Ethmoid sinuses are located between the eye sockets. The common sinus symptoms associated with this set of sinus cavities include nasal congestion, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, pain around the eyes and nose, headaches around the eyes and fever.

The Maxillary sinuses are located in the cheekbones. The common sinus symptoms associated with this set of sinuses include pain or tenderness around the cheekbones, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, postnasal drip and fever.

The Frontal sinuses are located in the forehead above the eyebrows. The common sinus symptoms associated with this set of sinuses include sever headaches in the forehead, fever and postnasal drip.

The Sphenoid sinus cavities are located deep in the head near the back of the nose. The common symptoms associated with infection in this set of sinuses include deep headache with pain behind and on top of the head, across the forehead, and behind the eye, fever, double vision or vision disturbances if pressure extends into the brain, nasal congestion with discharge and postnasal drip.

If you have a chronic sinus infection you may have some additional symptoms not included thus far. These would include chronic nasal discharge, chronic sore throat, chronic bad breath, chronic toothache and continua headaches.

If you feel that the symptoms mentioned in this article match the symptoms that you are experiencing then you should consult with your doctor or your licensed health care practitioner to get a proper diagnosis of your exact condition.

Sinus infections and the signs associated with them can be extremely painful, irritating, uncomfortable and debilitating.

To learn more about the common sinus infection symptoms including acute and chronic sinusitis you may visit http://www.silversinus.com

Mike Harader has been involved in the natural supplements industry for several years. He has written extensively about sinus infections and the common symptoms associated with them and is involved with natural dietary supplements that may help eliminate the symptoms of sinus infection.

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