Health Benefits of Laughing

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Jul 01, 2022 • 3 min Read

They say that laughter is the best medicine because of its actual health benefits. It boosts our physical and mental health. According to a clinical study, laughter proved to have positive effects on pain relief, stress-busting, and it also helps increase immunity.

Laughter is a natural response to stimuli that our personalities find funny, whether in the form of images, sounds, physical sensations, or memories.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of laughing, from Organic Facts:

1. Reduces Stress Hormones

Laughter reduces the levels of certain stress hormones in the body. By lessening the presence and production of these stress hormones through laughing, the overall health and well-being of a person are improved.

2. Increases Health-Enhancing Hormones

Laughter can increase the number of beneficial hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters in the body. By increasing the level of endorphins in the body, studies have shown that a subject’s threshold for pain is increased, making laughter a painkiller or a dampener. Endorphins attach to the same receptors in our brain as opiates, making the release of endorphins like a drug experience without the negative side effects, along with easing mood, tension, anger, and pain.

An increase in neurotransmitters means that your brain can function faster, make connections more rapidly, and comprehend situations and problems at a higher rate.

3. Boosts Immune System

Laughter can go far to help you stay healthy. It has been widely studied that laughter can stimulate antibody cells to develop at faster rates by changing the body’s chemistry through hormonal shifts. This increase in antibodies means that body can fight off illness and infection easier.

4. Natural Exercise

Laughter can be a natural way to exercise various muscle groups in your body. When you laugh, whether a giggle or a guffaw, muscles are used to create that movement. Laughter engages the body’s diaphragm and abdominal muscle systems during that repetitive expanding and contracting that often happens when laughing for an extended period, that’s why our sides or stomach hurt slightly after long bouts of laughter. The facial muscles are also exercised, the same as they would be when singing or enunciating strongly.

5. Complementary Cancer Therapy

The research found that several cancer survivors have used humor as a complementary therapy. Since laughter is linked to improving natural killer cell activity, it can help increase disease resistance and decrease morbidity in cancer or other chronic diseases.

6. Regulates Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that laughter causes an initial increase in arterial blood pressure due to the physical act of laughing, but that rise is followed by a decrease to below the normal resting blood pressure. Laughter does indeed improve circulation and can reduce blood pressure, which is one of the major causes of heart disease and cardiac issues for many people.

The process of laughter causes us to use our respiratory system very quickly and strenuously for a short amount of time. This intense activity stimulates an increase in the blood flow as the heart rate increases temporarily, thus increasing the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain. Increased oxygen levels in the brain promote healthier brain function, as oxygen is integral to brain health. Additionally, pulmonary activity gets a boost from laughter because there is a higher level of ventilation of the lungs during robust episodes of laughter.

Indeed, life is better when you’re laughing. Always find more things to laugh about today, it’s good for your health.

Stay healthy and safe!