# Benefits of smiling
Just to name a few: smiling elevates mood, relieves stress, boosts the immune system, and reduces pain.

## Elevate mood
We smile when we are happy. But did you know that we also become happy when we smile? This phenomenon is known as the facial feedback effect. A 2019 meta-analysis [1] of 138 studies verified its moderate but significant impact on happiness. Even fake smiling activates pathways in your brain that put you in an emotionally happy state [2].

## Relieve stress
If there is one thing there is too much of in today’s world - it is stress. Stress influences how we feel, look, and interact with others (mostly not for the better). Taking a short break and putting on a smile helps you decrease your stress level [3]. You and your surroundings will benefit from it.

## Boost the immune system
Smiling can also strengthen your immune system. Immune functions seem to improve because it relaxes you due to the release of neurotransmitters [4]. A simple smile can contribute to your overall health.

## Reduce pain
Smiling releases endorphins, which are our body’s natural painkillers. When smiling, we are better prepared to deal with pain than otherwise [5].

# Features of Egao
Egao supports you in reaping these benefits of smiling. It reminds you to smile and tracks your extra smiles.

## Get Statistics
Get all the statistics you desire about how often and how long you are smiling.
See your averages and records and try to smile more today than yesterday.

## Set Reminders
Consistency is key. Egao helps you to keep smiling by reminding you to smile whenever you please.

## Own your Data
We consider smiling as a minimal intervention for your well-being and mental health. Consequently, we consider all collected data as personal and help you to keep it private. All smile data is stored only locally, and there is no data transfer to any server (we don't even have one).
Still, it is your data, and you can do with it whatever you like. So, you can export your data in its raw form as an SQLite database or as an easily readable spreadsheet.

## Track your Smiles
Egao is smart (at least somewhat). It detects your smiles and automatically counts and times them for you.

# Disclaimer
Although smiling has many scientifically proven benefits for mental and physical health, Egao does not replace regular treatment by a specialized health professional in the case of an illness.

# References
[1] Coles, N.A., Larsen, J.T., & Lench, H.C. (2019). A meta-analysis of the facial feedback literature: Effects of facial feedback on emotional experience are small and variable. Psychological Bulletin, 145(6), 610–651. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000194

[2] Marmolejo-Ramos, F., Murata, A., Sasaki, K., Yamada, Y., Ikeda, A., Hinojosa, J.A., Watanabe, K., Parzuchowski, M., Tirado, C., & Ospina, R. (2020). Your face and moves seem happier when I smile. Experimental Psychology, 67(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1027/1618-3169/a000470

[3] Kraft, T.L. & Pressman, S.D. (2012). Grin and bear it: The influence of manipulated facial expression on the stress response. Psychological Science, 23(11), 1372–1378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612445312

[4] D’Acquisto, F., Rattazzi, L., & Piras, G. (2014). Smile - It’s in your blood! Biochemical Pharmacology, 91(3), 287–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2014.07.016

[5] Pressman S.D., Acevedo A.M., Hammond K.V., & Kraft-Feil T.L. (2020). Smile (Or grimace) through the pain? The effects of experimentally manipulated facial expressions on needle-injection responses. Emotion. Published online. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000913