You've heard the expression, ‘Laughter is the best medicine,' haven't you? Did you know children laugh 300 times a day, and adults maybe 10 times a day?
Several years ago, a doctor decided maybe those children were onto something. He came up with a program to get all of us laughing for our health. The DeKalb Medical Center Wellness Center has put the doctor's results to good use.
There's nothing like a good laugh to get the juices flowing. But for some people at the wellness center, laughing is serious business.
"I feel like I've been kind of purified," said participant Pat DeCocq.
They're taking a class in how to laugh. There are plenty of good reasons to laugh. Studies show that laughing lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, increases blood circulation and gets you breathing deeper.
"I worked out 20 minutes on the treadmill and I'm tireder now than I was doing the exercise," said participant lee Thompson.
For about an hour, the participants clapped hands, sang silly songs, and acted like little kids.
"People feel self conscious, but what I tell them is you may have to pretend to laugh but that's ok, you'll face other people in the group and their laughter might be infectious for you," said Terry, who instructed the class.
One participant said it was good medicine.
"I had a breast biopsy on Tuesday , and I haven't got the results back, and it's kind of anxiety producing, so I really needed to laugh and get something light," said DeCocq.
