You’ve undoubtedly heard the old adage that laughter is the best medicine. That may be truer than most people think. You may have noticed how relaxed you feel after a good, hearty laugh – that’s because a strong laugh is like a massage for your internal organs. It opens up the blood vessels and allows blood to move more freely throughout the body.
As it turns out, laughter has many benefits:
- It relaxes the body. Laughter reduces stress by stimulating blood flow and relaxing the muscles. It also stimulates your brain to produce more endorphins, which not only increase your sense of well-being, they can also reduce pain.
- It strengthens the immune system. As mentioned, laughter reduces stress, which has been shown to slow the immune system’s response to attacks. Additionally, several studies have demonstrated that laughing may stimulate the production of immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.
- It improves your mood. Laughter reduces the level of “stress hormones” (coritosol, epinephrine, adrenaline) in the body, while stimulating “feel good” hormones like endorphins. Additionally, laughing helps connect us with other people, which can also help elevate your mood.
- It’s good for the heart. Studies at the University of Maryland showed that blood flow increased when watching a comedic movie (There’s Something About Mary) versus a stress-inducing film (Saving Private Ryan). The increase in blood flow after watching a comedy was equivalent to light exercise. Michael Miller, a cardiologist who led the study, said, “The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day.”
- It can improve memory, creativity and learning. In a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, laughter during instruction led to increased test scores. In pressure situations, creativity is often the first casualty. Laughter cuts through tension and releases the creative juices.
- It may extend your life. In a study of 53,000 seniors done by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, researchers discovered that study participants who had a sense of humor had a 20 percent lower mortality rate compared to those who had difficulty in finding the humor in life. As this and other studies show, laughter is an essential part of aging well.
Many of us struggle to find the humor in life. Here are some tips to bring more laughter into your life.
- Put it on your to-do list. Just like any health routine – like exercising or brushing your teeth – make laughing a priority. You’ll most likely discover it’s a routine you enjoy.
- Get together with friends. It’s easier to laugh when you’re in a group of people. So call up some friends who lift your spirits and go to a comedy club.
- Watch a funny movie or TV show. With all the options available today – Hulu, Netflix, On Demand – there’s always something funny at your fingertips.
- Watch a funny video. Short on time? Type “funny videos” into your favorite search engine and choose from the plethora of options available.
- Play with your pet. Animals allow us to “be in the moment” and their willingness to engage in playful activity is a good source of joyfulness.
If all else fails, just start laughing. Even if laughter is forced, it provides the same benefits. You may discover that’s enough to start the real thing.
