Why Laughter is Healthy For You

Scientifically speaking, laughter is defined as "rhythmic, vocalized, expiratory, and involuntary actions caused by an external source”. Now, that makes laughing sound a lot more painful than it actually is, but it’s important to know that while we may not usually associate cold, hard science with laughter, laughter has a strong foundation in science.

Laughter is truly an effective medicine. The mental boost you get from laughing eases stress and relieves tension—the two biggest detriments to the health of an average working adult. It’s not just all for boosting your mood, though. You know another common saying, “laugh through the pain”? Scientists have found that laughing actually heightens your tolerance for pain and makes your immune system stronger.

The social aspect of laughing can also not be understated. Talking to a friend or loved one who can make you laugh consistently helps you get through some of the toughest parts of life. The best part about all of this? Laughing is free! All you need is a good sense of humor and something to laugh at.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter becomes infrequent. However, by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.

When you were a kid, you had to remember how almost everything made you laugh or fill you with wonder. The reason why kids are so energetic isn’t only their youthful vigor but also the happy spirit they keep as they discover the world for the first time. However, as we grow older, life gets more serious. We can’t always be laughing at our problems. That doesn’t mean we should never laugh. If anything, during times when we feel our lowest, a laugh might just be what we need.

The Science of Laughing

Laughing makes people feel good for a reason. Studies have shown that laughter boosts the immune system and triggers the release of pleasure-inducing neurochemicals in the brain. The special cells that are responsible for defending the body against infection have been shown to increase during the act of laughing. 

At the beginning of this article, you read about the benefits of laughter. To emphasize how true those advantages are, let’s take a quick science class. When a person laughs, it releases a special combination of neurochemicals into the brain’s central nervous system that triggers its pleasure centers and boosts your immune system. This is because those neurochemicals actually trigger the release of the immune system’s special cells which fight against infection.

Those chemicals are called endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural morphine stimulants which induce euphoria and heighten one’s pain threshold. In layman’s terms, these endorphins increase the amount of physical and mental damage we can resist. Sure, laughing makes us feel nice, but what else does it do?

• When you laugh, your blood pressure and heart rate temporarily rise. Oxygen will then course through your bloodstream, resulting in lower blood pressure.
• Laughing makes your blood flow stronger, leading to a healthier heart with less risk of heart attacks.
• Laughter can also increase your glucose tolerance, which is especially beneficial to diabetics.
• While you should definitely not think laughing is the same as actually working out, laughing every day helps promote healthy weight loss.
• Ever had a fight that was suddenly diffused by laughter? When tensions are high, nothing can cut through that thick discomfort like a hearty laugh. Many friendships have survived the test of time because you can look back and say, “Wow, that was a dumb fight. I’m glad we made up” then laugh about it.
• Lastly, the life expectancy of those who laugh has been seen to be longer than those who don’t. This is particularly true for those who are fighting a terminal illness, as survival rates favor those who can laugh through the pain.

Now that you know the benefits, let’s finish up with some tips on how to laugh more in your daily life.

• Make jokes whenever appropriate:  Injecting jokes into conversations not only makes you laugh but also puts anybody you talk to at ease.
• Learn to laugh at yourself: If something embarrassing happens, own it! The only one making you upset is yourself.
• Make your environment fun: Surround yourself with reminders such as souvenirs from memorable trips, pictures of your family in happy situations, etc. 
• Look at your problems objectively: When life gives you lemons, be happy that they are just that—lemons. Your problem isn’t the problem. It’s your attitude about the problem.
• Mimic children: There is no person in the world happier than a child. When you have a problem, temporarily put yourself in the perspective of your youth, and remember what it was that got you this far.

Have all these tips at heart and laugh whenever you can!