Economy & Aftermath

Eng. Arnous discusses with the Syrian-Ir…
On January 25th, Prime Minister Engineer Hussein Arnous met with the Board of Directors of the Joint Syrian-Iranian Chamber of Commerce. The two sides discussed strength...
On January 25th, the US-backed militias...
On January 25th, Prime Minister Engineer...
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN...
PALMYRA, (ST)_The General Company of...
DARAA, (ST)_Syrian army units have foiled an...
MOSCOW, (ST)_ Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea...
BEIRUT, (ST)_Several areas in Lebanon witnessed...
The first virtual international exhibition...
On January 25th, Russia's permanent...
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
Mass rallies were launched in the Yemeni...
Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) – The Israeli occupation...
Meetings of the Fifth Round of the...
The Public Corporation for Drinking Water in...
On January 25th, the Israeli occupation forces...
Damascus, (ST) - With the participation of...
Cinema is the ultimate pervert art that does...
Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) - This morning, the...
The Mineral Construction and Mechanical...
Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr....
On January 25th, Prime Minister Engineer Hussein Arnous met with the Board of Directors of the Joint Syrian-Iranian Chamber of Commerce. The two sides discussed strength...
With the participation of 34 beekeepers from the public and private sectors, the activities of the second Syrian Honey Festival were launched on the grounds of Al-Jalaa S...
Tartous, (ST)-The quiet village of Bnamra is embraced by mountains of ancient oak trees, in the midst of a charming nature as freshwater springs burst from its tops which makes the village look like an emerald. According to the village mayor, Muhammad Ahmad Shaheen, Bnamra is within the municipality of Sheikh Badr in Tartous. It spreads over an area of about two thousand dunums. The village was named so due to its...
Read moreWithin the activities of the Ministry of Culture, Child Theater, AL -Hamra Theater presented the play "Star of Dreams" by the writer Faten Derki and director Sohair Barhoum with participation of a number of actors, including several children. Syria Times interviewed the director who told us about the idea of the play: “The play has educational goals such as diligence, rejection of laziness, bearing responsibility, and non-dependence.
Read moreHoms, (ST)- After losing dear parts of their bodied in the battles of honor they waged against the enemies of life, they did not lose their love of life, rather they insisted in playing the melody of life with the rest of their bodies . The studio is a modest room with simple components located in the Zahra neighborhood of Homs, where the “Jareeh Studio” band members, under the supervision of its young founder Tha'er Balloul, meet to tr...
Read moreDAMASCUS, (ST)- Prime Minister Hussein Arnous on Monday received a delegation representing the people in the occupied Syrian Golan. The delegation handed the prime minister the national document of the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan that affirms their continuous resistance and struggle against the aggressive plans of the Zionist occupation until Golan is liberated and that emphasizes their adherence t...
Read moreResearch has shown that the health benefits of laughter are far-ranging. While more studies need to be done, studies so far have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity. Positive psychology names the propensity for laughter and sense of humor as one of the 24 main signature strengths one can possess, and laughter yoga clubs are springing up across the country.
Unfortunately, however, many people don't get enough laugher in their lives. In fact, one study suggests that healthy children may laugh as much as 400 ties per day, but adults tend to laugh only 15 times per day.
Read on for more findings about the health benefits of laughter, and see how to incorporate more humor and fun into your life.
Stress Management Benefits of Laughter:
•Hormones
Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.
•Physical Release
Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.
•Internal Workout
A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.
•Distraction
Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more beneficial way than other mere distractions.
•Perspective
Studies show that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a 'threat' or a 'challenge'. Humor can give us a more lighthearted perspective and help us view events as 'challenges', thereby making them less threatening and more positive. (For more on changing your perspective, see this article on cognitive reframing.)
•Social Benefits of Laughter:
Laughter connects us with others. Just as with smiling and kindness, most people find that laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!
How To Use Laughter
Laughter is one of my all-time favorite stress management strategies because it's free, convenient, and beneficial in so many ways. You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:
•T.V. and Movies: There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment, both at the theater and in the aisles of the video stores, as well as at home with T.V. comedies. While wasting your time watching something marginally funny may actually frustrate you, watching truly hilarious movies and shows is an easy way to get laughter into your life whenever you need it.
•Laugh With Friends: Going to a movie or comedy club with friends is a great way to get more laughter in your life. The contagious effects of laughter may mean you'll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show, plus you'll have jokes to reference at later times. Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings. (See this article on laughing more for additional tips on getting more fun and laughter into your life.)
•Find Humor In Your Life: Instead of complaining about life's frustrations, try to laugh about them. If something is so frustrating or depressing it's ridiculous, realize that you could 'look back on it and laugh.' Think of how it will sound as a story you could tell to your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now. With this attitude, you may also find yourself being more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful way and you'll find you're less stressed about negative events, and you'll achieve the health benefits of laughter. (See this article on maintaining a sense of humor.)
•'Fake It Until You Make It': Just as studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real, faked laughter also provides the benefits mentioned above. The body can't distinguish between 'fake' laughter that you just start doing on purpose, and 'real' laughter that comes from true humor--the physical benefits are exactly the same, and the former usually leads to the latter anyway. So smile more, and fake laughter; you'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.
Why laughter may be the best way to warm up a relationship
So much of our attitude about life and our capacity to meet life's challenges depends on the quality of the relationships we have, especially our most intimate relationships that when they go sour, life tends to feel bleak. Because the quality of our relationships has a powerful effect on physical and mental balance, as well as our sense of satisfaction in life, it's important that we keep our relationships rewarding and fresh.
What can laughter do?
What Health Benefits of Laughter?!
Lower blood pressure
Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood
Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline
Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells
Defend against respiratory infections–even reducing the frequency of colds–by immunoglobulin in saliva.
Raghda Sawas