Health Benefits of Laughing

Everyone enjoys getting a good laugh at least once a day, don’t they? It’s a reflection of having a good sense of humour and being in enjoyable company. Unknown to many, though, is that there’s way more to laughing than meets the eye. Contrary to popular belief, laughing isn’t just a reflex; it’s a powerful tool that can enhance your overall health and keep you feeling great. So, let’s dive into the many health benefits of laughing and see how it can brighten your life.

Mood Booster

We all know how laughing is a very good way of turning a frown into a literal smile. After laughing, your mood seems to be somehow better and boosted. If you don't know why, this is because your brain releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins and dopamine which are natural mood lifters that can instantly lighten your emotional load. By making you feel happier and more relaxed, your day will be turned around through laughing. Overall, when you laugh more, you naturally gain a more positive outlook on life, allowing you to always stay in good spirits and to always be happy. 

Improves Immune Health

Did you know that laughter can boost your immune system? Well, believe it or not, this is very true.  Studies have shown that laughter can increase the production of antibodies and activate immune cells, making your body more resilient to illness. When you laugh, your body relaxes and reduces stress hormones, which can otherwise weaken your immune response. The next time you spend hours stressed about things, consider how you are slowly damaging your immune system. Instead, wear laughter like it's a cap of defense against all illnesses and you'll notice how you'll become less susceptible to illnesses. Therefore, laughing indeed has an impact on our health as it helps to improve our immune health. Handy information right? 

Helps Relieve Pain

Sometimes when you are feeling pained, the only remedy you may need is laughter.  As made up as this may seem, when you laugh, your body releases its very own natural painkillers, which can provide relief from discomfort thus relieving you of any pain you may be feeling. So besides getting a good laugh to distract you from facing the pain that you may be feeling, by laughing, your body will work its way towards actually alleviating the pain.  Isn't it amazing how a little humour has such an effect on your life? 

Stress Reduction

Stress is like one of those enemies that are aimed at always sticking to you and ensuring that they never leave you, even in your sleep. This can be very annoying given how stress reduces productivity and ruins your overall daily mood, making you feel demotivated. In its fullest form, stress can even grow into full-blown mental illnesses such as depression, which is something that needs to be addressed. This is why it is important to take laughing more seriously as it stresses and helps you get rid of it. When you laugh, your body relaxes, and your heart rate decreases, leading to an overall reduction in stress levels. Moreso, laughter also helps to lower the levels of cortisol in your body (a stress hormone), allowing you to feel more at ease. So, whether it’s sharing funny stories with your friends or watching a comedy, make time for laughter in your day as it is a simple yet effective way to combat stress and enhance your overall well-being.

Strengthens Emotional Bonds

There is no better way to strengthen your connections with your friends, family or partner than through sharing humorous moments with them.  Sharing a laugh creates a sense of connection and intimacy between people, improving their bond and thus, making their relationship better. Instead of fighting all the time, by laughing with your counterparts, you will be able to bridge all the differences that you may have and focus on something that you enjoy universally, which is humour. Not only will you, therefore, make memories by laughing together and being humorous, but you will also provide your inner child with the emotional bonds it needs to feel belonging and love, thus making you holistically healthier.  So, next time you’re with loved ones, don’t underestimate the power of humour to strengthen your bonds. Laugh your day away and you will see how this will help you become more in touch with your emotional connection.

Enhances Respiratory Functions

At this point, I'm sure you are all ready to laugh your heart out due to all the benefits that laughter brings to you health-wise. Well, on top of all that, laughter helps to stimulate your lungs and improves respiratory function by taking in more oxygen for your body. This can be especially helpful for those with respiratory issues, as laughter encourages deeper breathing, improving your overall lung capacity. So, if you find yourself feeling a bit out of breath, you may want to invest in finding things that will make you laugh so that you can boost your respiratory functions and breathe a bit better.

Increases Lifespan

When you are gloomy and always serious about things, chances are, you are boring your body and encouraging negativity within your life. This also cuts your life short by reducing your life expectancy. However, laughing has the opposite effect as it makes you more positive, glowing and problem-free, automatically increasing your life expectancy. If you, therefore, want to live a little longer than usual, you might want to start tickling yourself into getting a good laugh daily so that you increase your life expectancy.