Americans love to laugh. According to About.com, research has
shown health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the
immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one's
threshold for pain. There's even an emerging therapeutic field
known as humor therapy to help people heal more quickly, among
other things. Humor also has several important stress relieving
benefits. Laughing while you are sick is not the first remedy
that any sane person would consider. However, the benefit of
using humor to lighten a serious health issue can help the
patient to recover with a better attitude and improve his
overall mental and physical health. Some researchers, according
to WebMD, think laughter just might be the best medicine,
helping you feel better and putting that spring back in your
step. Yet researchers aren't sure if it's actually the act of
laughing that makes people feel better. A good sense of humor, a
positive attitude, and the support of friends and family might
play a role, too. But while we don