World Smiling Day

Today, October 2cnd, is World Smile Day! Every day is a good day to smile, but especially today! There is a strong connection between smiling, your health, happiness, and well-being.

What smiling does to your body: When you smile, there is a little ‘feel good’ party happening in your brain! Smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress. Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons (brain cells) to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, or excited. As we know with the brain, the more you exercise something, the stronger it is. That means that the more you smile, the easier it is and the more frequently you will do it. The feel-good neurotransmitters—dopamine, endorphins and serotonin—are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well. This not only relaxes your body, but it can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

The endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever – many studies have shown that patients have reported lowered levels of pain while watching a funny video. The same goes for medical research trials where they gave the subject pain medicine or a placebo, but if the subject was smiling, the placebo in some cases would be just as effective as the real medication. Finally, the serotonin release brought on by your smile serves as an antidepressant/mood lifter. Many of today’s pharmaceutical antidepressants also influence the levels of serotonin in your brain, but with a smile, you again don’t have to worry about negative side effects—and you don’t need a prescription from your doctor.

In addition, for stroke victims, smiling is an easier feat. This is because smiling only requires 17 muscles to smile, but frowning requires 43.Smiling can actually add years to your life! People who smile tend to have a more positive and optimistic outlook on life, and are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and naturally have a stronger immune system than pessimists.

Smile wholeheartedly – smiling and laughter also have positive effects on the cardiovascular system! This is because when we smile and laugh, it increases blood flow and blood vessel function, which can prevent heart attacks and other heart-related diseases. . Also, smiling reduces stress, which can be a factor or trigger for heart attacks or stroke.