7 Reasons Why You Should Laugh More Often

Laughter, often described as the best medicine, holds a remarkable place in human health and well-being. From being just a spontaneous reaction to humor or joy, laughter encompasses a range of benefits that positively impact the mind and body.

The following list reveals the main reasons why incorporating more laughter into our daily routine can be a key to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

• Stress Relief: Laughter can soothe tension, stimulate circulation, and aid muscle relaxation, reducing some of the physical symptoms of stress. It also has long-term benefits for your immune system.((https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456)),((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Adams))
• Hormonal Balance: Laughing reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine while increasing health-enhancing hormones such as endorphins.((https://www.verywellmind.com/the-stress-management-and-health-benefits-of-laughter-3145084)) It also boosts the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells, supporting the immune system.
• Heart Health: Laughter is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks.((https://www.henryford.com/blog/2019/03/how-laughter-benefits-heart-health)) Laughter offers a simple and effortless approach to heart health. It doesn’t demand significant lifestyle alterations but inspires you to seek and appreciate the joy in your daily life. As endorphins are released to combat the adverse impacts of stress hormones, your body relaxes, reducing blood pressure. This interplay of “feel-good” hormones and decreased blood pressure enhances your mood, alleviates anxiety, and reduces the strain on your heart.
• Healthy Aging: Laughing with friends can lower the chances of having difficulties with basic daily tasks like bathing or dressing.((https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/laughing-with-friends-linked-to-lower-risk-of-disability)) In other words, enjoying laughter with friends might help you maintain the ability to do everyday activities more easily as you age.
• Emotional and Mental Well-Being: Psychologists have found that laughter can be really good for mental well-being, so they’ve started using it in therapy.((https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/laughter-good-for-you/)) A group of psychologists even created an organization called the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH). Ramon Mora-Ripoll’s research shows that laughter is really good for us. It helps us relax and feel less stressed, makes us happier, helps our brain work better, and makes us friendlier to others. So, laughing is not just fun; it’s also healthy!
• Quality of Life: Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, believes that laughter is more of a social activity.((https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter)) He found that people laugh more often when they are with others than when they are alone. This could mean that people who laugh a lot have strong relationships with those around them, and these relationships might be what actually improve their health.
• Strong Relationship: Most of the time, laughter happens when people enjoy each other’s company. The social interaction in laughing with others is a key part of why laughter is good for health. To truly laugh and have fun with others, you need to give them your full attention, like turning off your phone and talking to them directly. This kind of interaction can help calm your nervous system and reduce stress responses like “fight or flight.”((https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm)) When you laugh with someone, both of you tend to feel happier and more relaxed, even if you can’t change a stressful situation.

As we laugh, our body experiences several physiological transformations. The muscles in our face and body extend, there’s an uptick in our heart rate and blood pressure, and our breathing quickens, boosting oxygen flow to our cells. Researchers often compare laughter to a mild exercise, hinting that it could offer comparable health benefits to physical workouts.