With all the recent events in the finical markets, housing markets, global tensions and war it is little wonder why a recent poll showed that 8 out of 10 Americans feel stressed out. So how do we deal with our stressful lives and make the most of them. The answer may be to simply have a good laugh now and then.

People have been saying that laughter is the best medicine for years. Is a trip to the comedy club or watching comedy on the internet really good for you? For an answer to this question we turn to the medical community for the answers.

We know that, during stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids (quickly converted to cortisol in the blood stream) and that elevated levels of these have an immuno suppressive effect. Research shows that laughter can lower cortisol levels and thereby protect our immune system.

A sense of humor allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of joy and delight. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immuno suppressive effects of stress.

Stress is not dependent solely on an external event, but also depends upon the perception of the event and the meaning the person gives it. So, how you look at a situation determines if you will respond to it as threatening or challenging.

Humor gives us a different perspective on our problems. If we can make light out of the situation, it is no longer threatening to us. We have already discounted its effect. With such an attitude of detachment, we feel a sense of self-protection and control of our environment.

So watch a comedy movie or television show or check out stand up comedy videos on the web. It will give you a little break and allow your body to take care of itself. Have a good laugh, you will enjoy it and you just might feel a lot better.

Humor is not restrained to words or enactments. Even pictures possess the capacity to evoke laughter. A hoarding on the roadside can not only attract the attention of the passersby but also bring out smiles if it possesses a fun element. Funny pictures apart, funny videos are also an excellent source of quick humor.

Undoubtedly, funny videos offer moments of quick relief. These light moments are extremely important to cheer one’s spirits and shrug off every stress. In fact, visual sources of humor like videos and pictures create greater impact. Pictures and videos drawn from real life help one to connect to their own experiences. Most of the funny videos available on the Internet are drawn from real-life incidents, which help convey personal elements with a hint of fun.

Funny pictures, on the other hand, may incorporate cartoon sketches of well-known figures as well as real-life pictures. A number of them convey jokes to laugh your belly out. These hilarious stuffs evoke emotions to help our body attain equilibrium of health and happiness.

Physicians and therapists too emphasize on the advantages of humor in one’s life. Funny stuffs like pictures or videos can work wonders for people who are prone to depression. Even a five-minute fun break from your hectic schedule can be truly refreshing. Besides, the joy of watching funny videos with your friends or family is a nothing short of a priceless experience. These happy hours are a great way to strengthen your bonds with your near and dear ones.

So make the most of your lives by gorging in little tidbits of humor. The Internet is one platform from where funny stuffs like jokes, pictures or videos can be easily accessible. Take your pick of the jokes, funny pictures or funny videos to bring a fresh lease of life into the dull drudgery of your monotonous lives.