Ana AlexanderOne of the reasons I LOVE my job and feel so blessed to be able to do it, is how it can make people feel when they watch it. When I get a chance to preform in a comedy, I feel like a kid who just got the best gift EVER. Working on sitcoms is like being on a stage in a theater, you get an immediate human response from a live audience, which is exhilarating. And to the audience, ( which I am a part of more often then not) watching comedies is not only a great way to escape from our fast-paced lives for a little but its been proven that laughter improves physical health, another reason why I am so passionate about it!

Studies show that anger, depression, and pessimism impair the immune response, increase surgical recovery and wound-healing times, and can even contribute to higher death rates. What better way to counter a negative outlook than through a dose of comedy? “Humor and distressing emotion cannot occupy the same psychological space,” says Steven Sultanoff, PhD, a clinical psychologist and president of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor.

I also discovered from the Cancer Treatment Center of America, that according to some of their studies, laughter therapy may provide physical benefits such as helping to boost the immune and circulatory systems, enhance oxygen intake, stimulate the heart and lungs and relax muscles throughout the body.

Laughter also can trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), ease digestion/soothes stomach aches, balance blood pressure and improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity). It may also help to improve overall attitude, reduce stress/tension, promote relaxation, improve sleep, enhance quality of life, strengthen social bonds and relationships and produce a general sense of well-being.

So many great reasons to laugh! So, let’s laugh ourselves to health and happiness 🙂