As some people argue, laughter is the best medicine. According to the healthcare expert, Faivish Pewzner, that sentence is true, especially for seniors.
In this article, Faivish Pewzner will share the reasons why needs to surround himself with people who make him laugh.
The Importance of Laughter
Laughing can certainly brighten one’s day. Additionally, laughing can provide a lot of health benefits for seniors.
In addition, Pewzner, who has been in the healthcare industry for years, shares some of the laughing benefits:
- Improves the immune system – Laughing can for sure boost the older adults’ immune system.
- Lowers cholesterol and blood pressure – The chance of having high blood pressure and high cholesterol increases with the age. However, laughing can help you reduce both. While laughing, more oxygen gets into the bloodstream. This has a positive effect on circulation.
- Workout for the muscles – When laughing, abdominal muscles and diaphragm get a workout. This exercise is extremely beneficial for seniors, especially if they suffer from chronic bronchitis or asthma.
- Increases endorphin levels – Endorphins are known to be the body’s painkillers. So, laughing increases these natural pain reducers. It might be noticed that any pain one is dealing with decreases slightly.
- Decreases depression – For seniors, depression can cause more serious illnesses. Laughing increases dopamine levels in the body, which makes it a natural overall mood lifter.
Social Benefits of Laughter
According to Pewzner, who is also the COO of Americare Companies, laughing with someone else has some other benefits. It helps improve seniors’ communication skills and creates closer bonds between them.
People tend to take a less confrontational approach with those they laugh with. Moreover, laughter can break down cultural barriers as well.
Furthermore, laughing can make talking about health issues less uncomfortable and embarrassing decreasing the tension with a joke.
This can be extremely helpful for seniors who have a more difficult time discussing health issues.
Also, for seniors laughter is a way to deal with stress and also makes them feel that they are being supported in social situations. It is also worth mentioning that laughter tends to go hand-in-hand with flirting. It can be a great way to keep the spark alive between them.
“Having all that in mind, there is no time like the present to get started” says Faivish Pewzner.