To be healthier laughing more promotes 7 benefits.

Ever heard the expression “laugher is the best medicine”?

Unfortunately, as we get older, we laugh less and smile less frequently, and the effects can be detrimental to our health.

Recent advances in fields such as psychoneuroimmunology are slowly pulling together psychology, neurology, and a depiction of our hormonal state to measure what happens when we laugh.

Turns out, a positive frame of mind really does make us physically better. A positive mindset modifies our physiology!

Laughter has been shown to activate the release of serotonin, that’s the feel-good chemical in our brain.

Studies specifically investigating the therapeutic effects of laughter are rare, and often include a small pool of participants, making conclusions less reliable. However, the combined results are encouraging.

Laughter reduces physical and emotional tension, elevates mood, enhances cognitive functioning, and increases friendliness.

Here are 7 additional advantages of laughter:

“I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.” ~ Zach Galifianakis

Muscles and organs benefit. Laughter enhances our intake of oxygen-rich air, it stimulates our heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the release of endorphins in our brain.

Less stress. A hearty laugh fires up our stress response but then cools it back down. It can increase and then decrease our heart rate and blood pressure. The result is a relaxed feeling with positive implications. In addition, laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, dopamine and growth hormone.

“Just because you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.” ~ George Carlin

Tension lowers and we relax. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Our immune system strengthens. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect our body by bringing more stress into our system, which decreasing our immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.

Natural pain reliever. Research has shown that laughter can ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

Satisfaction increases. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. In addition, it helps us connect with other people.

“If life was fair, Elvis would be alive, and all the impersonators would be dead.” ~ Johnny Carson

Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen depression and anxiety, which makes us feel happier. 

“Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” ~ Danny Kaye

Sum it up

We can force our self to find something amusing and observe the physiological change. Our muscles relax and we become more buoyant. Give it a try.

When was the last time your laughed until it hurt? Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn and grab the FREE Weatherology mobile app at www.weatherology.com!