Laughing is often referred to as the best medicine but is there any scientific background to this Statement ? In this Post I will try to show you how to unlock the healing power of laughter & how you can improve your well-being with a good chuckle. First of all let me say that laughing is surprisingly a very well researched field and in some ways it appears to be a “secret weapon” for a lot of diseases.
Endorphins & Laughter
Laughter has long been known as a natural stress reliever, and science has proven that there is truth to this belief. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, which are natural chemicals that can help to relieve pain and promote a sense of well-being. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that interact with the opiate receptors in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure, euphoria, and relaxation. In fact, endorphins are often referred to as the body’s natural painkillers.
The release of endorphins through laughter can have a powerful impact on reducing stress and anxiety levels in the body. Stress and anxiety can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health, leading to issues such as Digestive issues, Immune system dysfunctions, depression, and more. However, laughter can help to combat these negative effects by reducing the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, in the body.
The Benefits for your Heart
In addition to reducing stress levels, laughing can have a profound positive effect on your heart health. When you laugh, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, which can help to improve blood flow and lower your risk of developing heart disease. This is because laughter triggers the release of nitric oxide, a natural chemical in the body that relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing the workload on the heart.
Moreover, laughter has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can further reduce the risk of heart disease. Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to the development of many chronic diseases, including heart disease. By reducing inflammation in the body, laughter can help to prevent the development of heart disease and other chronic conditions.
A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that laughter can have immediate positive effects on heart health. The study found that watching a humorous video can lead to a significant increase in blood flow, which is beneficial for heart health. Additionally, the study found that watching a humorous video can reduce the risk of heart disease by improving arterial function.
Another study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention found that individuals with a sense of humor have a lower risk of heart disease. The study found that individuals who scored higher on a humor scale had lower levels of inflammatory markers, which are risk factors for heart disease.
The Benefits for your Immune System & Mental Health
In addition to its positive effects on stress levels and heart health, laughing can also have a significant impact on your immune system. When you laugh, your body produces more antibodies, which are proteins that help to fight off infections and diseases. This increase in antibody production can help to improve your body’s ability to fight off illnesses, such as colds and flu.
Studies have shown that laughter can also increase the production of white blood cells, which are essential for a healthy immune system. White blood cells help to identify and destroy harmful pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. By boosting the production of white blood cells, laughter can help to enhance the body’s immune response and reduce the risk of infections.
Moreover, laughter can also have a positive impact on the body’s stress response, which is closely linked to the immune system. Chronic stress is known to weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. By reducing stress levels, laughter can help to strengthen the immune system and promote overall health and well-being. In fact, research has shown that laughter therapy can be an effective treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancer, HIV, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Laughter therapy involves the use of humor and laughter to promote physical and emotional well-being, and has been shown to improve immune function, reduce pain and inflammation, and improve quality of life in individuals with these conditions.
Laughter therapy is also a well-known form of treatment for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that laughter can help to reduce the severity of symptoms by promoting feelings of happiness and positivity, which can help to improve overall mood and outlook on life.
Additionally, laughter can improve social connections and relationships, which are important factors in mental health. Laughter is often contagious and can help to create a sense of community and bonding among people. Laughing together with friends or family can promote feelings of closeness and connectedness, which can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
How I do it
To be honest, as someone who takes life a bit too serious it was pretty hard to get started, to start laughing, smiling and add some humor to every piece of life available to me.
The first step I took was to smile more, to face everybody on the hall way, bus, supermarket with a generous smile, it took some reminders throughout the day and weeks, where I found myself not doing it but with a lot of practice it became my natural expression, and helped me to create a positive attitude.
An important step was to convert anger and negative emotions that occurred from situations into humorous jokes, or just smiling and laughing it away. Instead of getting upset about accidently dropping my shopping bag or forgetting my keys at home I accept the situation and find it funny why it had to happy to me. Another one, would be that when my someone at my workplace gets angry about another coworker I would bring a joke, that while he got angry and raised his voice looked like a tomato that is about to burst.
But the most important thing is that I started to pay attention to the little things, to appreciate the linking words not only the main topic of a sentence. I heard more funny things since I focused on the details and not every time on the bigger picture, life is about the details, the puzzle pieces that create a beautiful scene out of chaos.
I hope that I could give you a small insight how you can practically use the theory in our blog post !
Conclusion
Maybe you have experienced it yourself after a long evening together with some friends or family with many laughs ,you are feeling fulfilled and just drop in your bed and have a good resting sleep. I hope my blog post could help you understand the Physical and Scientific Background of all the benefits of a good Laughter.
In conclusion we can say laughing is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Laughing can improve your physical and mental health, reduce stress levels, boost your immune system, and promote feelings of happiness and positivity. So for example watching a funny show or a nice Comedy is in fact not a waste of time but rather a therapy for your Body, so enjoy it without a bad conscience.
If you want to learn more about How to Increase you Well-Being click here
Do you already try to pay attention of keeping your laughter and humor up ?
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to laugh 😉
Sources
Laughter and Endorphins:
- Martin, R. A. (2002). Is laughter the best medicine? Humor, laughter, and physical health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11(6), 216-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00204
- Laughter and Heart Health:
- American Heart Association. (2019, May 2). Laughter is the best medicine for your heart. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/02/laughter-is-the-best-medicine-for-your-heart
- Laughter and Immune System/Mental Health:
- Berk, L. S., Felten, D. L., & Tan, S. A. (2001). The neuroendocrine and immune effects of humor-associated mirthful laughter. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 22(4), 260-266. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2204_6
- Bennett, M. P., Lengacher, C. A., & Gonzalez, L. (2006). Humor and laughter may influence health: III. Laughter and health outcomes. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3(1), 61-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nek007
- Laughter Therapy:
- Bennett, M. P., Lengacher, C. A., & Gonzalez, L. (2006). Humor and laughter may influence health: III. Laughter and health outcomes. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3(1), 61-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nek007
- McDonald, P. L. (2014). The use of humor in the treatment of cancer patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 32(3), 343-354. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2014.894509
