Page 3 - Elevate Winter 2021

WELL -BEING

A laugh a Ha Ha
day keeps
the doctor

away.

to Healthy!

LAUGHTER DOESN’T JUST improve in your body, and laughter can reduce the GET SOME GUFFAWS
physical health. Laughing regularly effects of stress. The increased oxygen
draws people together and helps manage from laughing also decreases the stress Try these tips to increase laughter in your
emotional health as well. chemical cortisol. everyday routine:
» Maintains heart health: More » Attend a laughing meditation or yoga
HOW DOES LAUGHTER KEEP YOU HEALTHY? oxygen in the blood improves heart
rate and blood flow, protecting class online or in-person.
» Boosts immunity: Laughing increases against heart attack. » Enjoy your favorite comedic movies,
the production of immune cells and » Relieve pain: Researchers recently
infection-fighting antibodies which help confirmed that laughter increases pain television or podcast
protect against disease. threshold. Endorphins from laughter can » Keep in touch with family and friends
also help relieve pain.
» Burns calories: Research published in » Sleep soundly: Increased endorphins who share a love of laughter.
the International Journal of Obesity and decreased cortisol help relax your » Smile more! Many benefits of laughter
reports 10 to 15 minutes of daily laughter mind and body, promoting better sleep
may burn up to 40 calories. each night. are also gained from smiling.

» Decreases stress: Laughter produces FIND A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AT
endorphins, natural “feel good” chemicals WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG.

NOT TOO LATE FOR A FLU SHOT
RECEIVING AN ANNUAL flu shot is very important. Dr. Choo-Yick says. “These are the body’s natural
The flu shot is a vaccine that’s lifesaving for infants, immune responses keeping you safe.” There’s always
children, adults, pregnant women and older adults, » The flu shot prevents serious illness. “Getting time to protect
and it’s effective throughout flu season—even if you the vaccine doesn’t make you immune to the flu,” yourself from
get it as late as January or February. Dr. Choo-Yick says. “The vaccine is a ‘shield’ that
fights the flu virus. Sometimes it defeats the virus, the flu.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FLU SHOT and you have no symptoms. Other times it injures
the virus, and you experience mild symptoms.”
Sarah Choo-Yick, MD, family medicine physician at Flu shots are administered at pharmacies, clinics
Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care West Macon, and many doctor’s offices, and they are often free of
explains the safety and effectiveness of the flu shot. charge with or without health insurance. Dr. Choo-
» Different flu viruses circulate each season. “The Yick adds the flu shot is safe for most people,
including those who received a COVID-19 vaccine.
flu vaccine changes yearly to keep up,” Dr. Choo-
Yick says. “This keeps us protected from newer READY FOR YOUR FLU SHOT? MAKE AN
and deadlier strains of the virus.” APPOINTMENT WITH A PROVIDER ONLINE AT
» The flu shot won’t give you the flu, but you WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG.
may have side effects. “After receiving a flu shot,
some people experience mild, flu-like symptoms,”

3WINTER 2021 | navicenthealth.org