MANILA, Philippines — There are many businessmen who act funny, think funny, and look funny. On the other hand, there are businessmen who act serious, look serious, and think serious. Guess who are more approachable, more caring and who are more patient in listening to their subordinates.

Let’s admit it… There are many of us who need to lighten up and think funny. Especially during stressful moments.

In our modern stressful life, scientists, doctors, and other health-conscious people as well are just starting to realize – and to discover the great positive effect of laughter. No wonder, there are now more than 5,000 laughter clubs and studios in more than 50 countries. Confirming once again the truth of the old saying that “a laugh a day keeps the doctor away.”

Laughter can bring balance to all the components of the immune system which helps us fight off diseases. Laughter also reduces levels of certain stress hormones. Blood pressure drops, depression symptoms disappear, and the immune system is boosted.

When we laugh, the natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses increase as well as the Gamma-interferon (a disease-figthing protein), Tcells which are a major part of the immune response, and B-cells, which make disease-destroying antibodies. Also, laughter increases the concentration of a natural antibody, IGA in the salivary glands (Immunoglobin A) that defends against infectious organisms entering through the respiratory tract.

Surprisingly, research findings show that laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike. Laughing can be a total body workout. That is why one often feels exhausted after a long bout of laughter – it’s an aerobic workout.

Laughter provides a way for negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and fear to be harmlessly released. Laughter is cathartic (cleansing, purifying and purgative). Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well being.

Many of us have read about Larry Wilde, a comedian, a television and stage actor, author and humor historian. An author of fifty-three (53) published humor books, he founded the National Humor Month in 1976. Definitely, these humor books create greater awareness of how the therapeutic value of laughter can improve our health. Today, the so-called “laughter therapy” is gaining more acceptance and patronage especially among the medical professional. No wonder, industries built around laughter are successful including comedians, sitcoms, and those who write about jokes.

According to one laughter therapist: “We need to laugh more and seek stress reducing humor in our everyday life. Laughter is the human gift of coping and for survival. Laughter ringing, laughter peeling, laughter roaring, laughter bubbling. Chuckling. Giggling. Snickering. Snorting. These are the sounds of soul-saving laughter which springs from our emotional core and helps us feel better, see things more clearly, and creatively weigh and use our options. Laughter helps us roll with the punches that inevitable come our way. The power of laughter is unleashed everytime we laugh. In today’s stressful world, we need to laugh much more.

Finally, businessmen should ponder on the following saying: “Laughter and good humor are the canaries in the mine of commerce – when the laughter dies, it’s an early warning that life is ebbing from the enterprise.”

Enjoy a good laugh today!