By Amy Williams

Clark County Health Dept.

Now that we have made it through Christmas, what can we look forward to next?

Do not let this cloudy, cold, snowy, weather get you down — although on some days, I wonder if it is going to stay dark all day long.

Some folks even go through a depression starting in winter that does not subside until the daffodils start to bloom in March.

Some have even started working on New Year’s resolutions to get their mind off winter, like being more organized, being a positive person, not complaining, losing weight or just being a healthier person overall, which leads us to our next point.

Did you know a dose of laughter is strong medicine for mind and body, leading to a healthier person?

Laughter has been proven to reduce stress, pain and conflict.

Laughter has also been proven to bring a person back in balance quicker than anything you could take via prescription.

A good laugh lightens your mood, stress and worries; keeps you focused and alert, enhances relationships, strengthens bonds with friends and supports both physical and emotional health.

Laughter has also been shown to relax the body, possibly relieving tension in muscles up to 45 minutes later.

It has also been shown to boost the immune system and protect the heart. The blood vessels of the body improve with function during laughter whereby blood flow is increased. This aids in protection against heart attack and other cardiovascular problems that could occur.

So, as you are waiting for those daffodils to spring up, look for ways to make life fun and full of laughter this winter.

Rent a funny movie, schedule a board game night with a group of friends or have friends over to socialize.

Electronic gaming systems could be fun to do with friends as well.

Watch your friends be goofy dancing and be physically active at the same time.

Practice ways to enhance your health the non-prescription way … just plain ol’ laughter.

Clark County Health Department supports families through a variety of programming and services, including: Nutrition Therapy, family planning, immunizations, WIC, HANDS, community education events, Cooper Clayton smoking cessation, etc. For more information, call 744-4482 or visit www.clarkhealthdept.org.