There are many things you can do to improve your longevity and your happiness. They include decreasing stress, spending time with friends and family, and now, studies are showing that laughing and listening to joyful music can improve the way your blood flows through your body. Sound crazy? Experts proved that laughter causes blood vessels to dilate by 19% while joyful music causes blood vessels to dilate by as much as 26%.

When blood vessels dilate, blood flow throughout the body improves, reducing the risk of blood clots that can cause heart attacks and stroke. People with high cholesterol often also suffer from poor blood vessel dilation, so cholesterol-lowering or statin drugs can help improve dilation. Now, apparently, so can music and laughter.

However, experts suggest you pick your music carefully. Music that causes anxiety or tension can cause blood vessels to narrow by as much as 6%. If you choose joyful music, it releases endorphins in the brain, causing chemical nitric oxide to dilate the blood vessels.

Not sure what music too choose? Participants in the study who chose country music artists like Hal Ketchum and Dwight Yoakam as well as the “Footloose” soundtrack experienced a loosening of blood vessels and an improvement in blood flow. Participants who chose heavy rock bands experienced anxiety and a tightening of blood vessels.