Laughter IS the Best Medicine, Living and Practicing by Design with Dr. John Hayes

Living and Practicing by Design is a weekly segment with Dr. John Hayes. It airs Thursday mornings at 9:22 on The South Shore’s Morning News with Rob Hakala and Beth Foster.  There is a reason for the common saying "laughter is the best medicine" and Dr. John Hayes wanted to explain why on our weekly "check-up" today: Laughter may be the best medicine for stress and your heart because it makes the body release endorphins, which are hormones that reduce stress and inflammation and that help the blood vessels relax. Dr. John Hayes also wants to 'stress' the importance of...minimizing stress levels: Sustained stress causes the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can temporarily elevate blood pressure. Over time, chronic stress can lead to sustained high blood pressure (hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. The best remedy? Having a chuckle, giggle, laugh, however you want to call it - get those "ha-ha's" out and good health in. Listen to our conversation below and you can read Dr. John Hayes' full blog post by clicking here.