Health benefits of smiling
Did you know that smiling more often—regardless of your mood—can improve your health and help you live longer? Discover seven of the surprising health benefits of smiling. 1. Improved Mood Smiling can boost your mood when you’re feeling blue, and may be beneficial for people struggling with anxiety and depression. A 2010 study found that making yourself smile when you’re feeling down helps improve your mood and increases positive thoughts. So, if you’re having a bad day, try smiling anyway—it may lead to a genuine smile and lift your spirits. 2. Lower Blood Pressure Smiling and laughing more appear to help lower your blood pressure, which is good news for your heart health. A 2009 review explains that laughter causes an initial increase in heart rate, followed by a period of muscle relaxation and a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, which helps reduce your risk of developing heart disease. 3. Stress Relief Did you...