Chase Away Your Stress – Smile!

Are you overcome by stress? Join the club! But maybe you can chase that stress away by smiling! It might be worth a try.

There is new research that says smiling just might bring your blood pressure down.

Researchers at the University of Kansas  found that those who smiled through stress-inducing tasks had lower heart rates than those who’d held neutral facial expressions instead.

The researchers studied 170 people and also had some participants insert chopsticks into their mouths to force them into a smile, and while those agreeable people also had lower heart rates after the stressful tasks, the difference wasn’t as marked — implying that the deliberate act of “grinning and bearing it” may be what matters most.

So next time you’re stuck in traffic or dealing with a work deadline, trying pasting a smile on your face for a few moments. You might look a little crazy, but hey, you’ll feel better.

[LiveScience]