Laughing Matters: How Laughter Enhances Health and Well-Being
Laughing Feels Great!
Have you ever noticed how wonderful you feel after a good laugh? I love to laugh with my family, friends, and even when I’m alone. Nothing beats a good belly laugh to make you feel great!
Laughing Is Contagious
Have you ever noticed how laughing is contagious? Laughter begets laughter. Just hearing someone else laughing makes you feel like laughing too.
My Dad had a distinctive, loud, deep-from-the-belly, resonant laugh. When my parents went to see Phyllis Diller, she called out my Dad from the stage and asked if he would come on tour with her, because his laughter made everyone else laugh harder and longer. I always loved that story. When my Dad laughed, everyone else did too.
Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine
Laughter is the best medicine – a timeless adage echoed across cultures and generations. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety often dominate, the healing power of laughter is more important than ever.
I never really thought about the reasons that laughing feels so good. Of course, when you’re laughing, you’re happy. But there’s more to it than that. Laughing has multiple positive effects on health and well-being.
“Always laugh when you can—it is cheap medicine.”
― Lord Byron
Here are just a few of laughter’s many benefits:
Laughter May Increase Longevity. A Korean study on successful aging compared laughter frequency in centenarians, octogenarians, and sexagenarians. Centenarians scored higher in “laughing more than two times a day” than the sexagenarians and the octogenarians.
Anecdotal evidence associating laughter with longevity dates back 4,000 years to Democritus, who was referred to as the “laughing philosopher” because of his penchant to laugh at the absurdity of life. Democritus supposedly died aged 109. Super-centenarian Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment is the world’s oldest (verified) person. She died in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days. According to her biographers, Calment’s advice was,
“Always keep your sense of humor. That’s what I attribute my long life to. I think I’ll die laughing. That’s part of my program.”
Increases Pain Tolerance. Laughter releases endorphins, which increases pain tolerance. In a study in which participants watched a comedy show for 15 minutes, their pain tolerance increased by 10%.
Reduces Stress. Laughter can make it easier to deal with stressful situations. When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins (the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals), reducing stress and boosting feelings of happiness and well-being. Laughter stimulates circulation in the body, which increases oxygen levels and endorphins, and reduces cortisol, epinephrine, and other stress hormones. This brings on a state of calm in your brain which triggers a cascade of relaxation responses through your body.
Improves Heart Health. Research suggests laughter can decrease stress hormones, reduce artery inflammation, and increase HDL, the “good” cholesterol.
Laughter improves heart health by increasing heart rate and blood flow, reducing stress hormones, which cause blood vessels to constrict, and reducing heart attack risk.
Burns Calories. Does laughing count as a workout? Maybe not; but if you’ve ever laughed so hard that your cheeks or abs hurt, you may not have known that laughter burns about 40 calories in 15 minutes—mostly by engaging your muscles. Laughing activates the muscles in your face, neck, and chest, as well as your diaphragm and abdominals.
Enhances Social Connection. Laughing and humor can strengthen personal relationships. Laughing with others forms a positive bond and deters disagreements and dissatisfaction. Laughter makes you feel good, and the good feelings remain even after the laughter ends. People who incorporate laughter and humor into their daily lives find that it brings joy to both them and those around them.
Laugh More Often
Laughing makes you feel good and is good for your body, mind, and soul. Anyone can do it, and it’s free. What’s not to like?
From improving physical health to enhancing mental well-being and strengthening social bonds, laughter is a fundamental component of holistic wellness. So, we should all find ways to laugh more—whether we’re alone or with others.
This doesn’t mean adding “laugh” to your to do list. Instead, find opportunities to lighten your overall mood—whether it’s watching crazy cat videos, a good rom com, or whatever else tickles your funny bone. (I love Scott Metzger cartoons. His cartoons often make me laugh out loud.) Whatever it is, try to do more things to make laughter a regular part of your life.
Now For a Few Jokes
Jokes aren’t my forte, but I ran down a few that made me giggle, and I’ll share them here.
Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9.
A grasshopper sits down at a bar. The bartender says, “We have a drink named after you.” The grasshopper replies, “Who names a drink Steve?”
Can February march? No, but April may.
A man attending a funeral asks the widow, “Do you mind if I say a word?” She tells him to go ahead. He says, “Plethora.” “Thank you,” she replies, “that means a lot.”
What did the tie say to the hat? “You go on ahead. I’ll hang around.”
I ordered a chicken and an egg online. I’ll let you know which one comes first.
A priest, a rabbi, and a horse walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, “What is this? A joke?”
Do you have a favorite joke, movie, or something else that makes you laugh? Please share it in the comments, so we can all have a good laugh!