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The secrets of laughter and its effects on our bodies
“A day without laughter is a day wasted,” Charlie Chaplin once said. And he’s not alone in thinking this. Dr. Lee S. Berk of Loma Linda University School of Health, one of the pioneers in the field of laughter research, also encourages people to laugh every day. Why would a researcher agree with a comedian? Because laughter is good for your health. 1 If you want to know how laughter can contribute to a healthy lifestyle, read our article!
Gelotology: the study of humor or laughter
We've all heard the expression "laughter is the best medicine," but what many people don't know is that there's a scientific reasoning behind this phrase. "Gelotology" (from the Greek gélos , meaning "laughter") is the study of laughter or humor. Although scholars such as William F. Fry and Lee S. Berk were initially ridiculed for their somewhat unusual focus, the discipline has since been officially recognized.
William F. Fry, a professor at Stanford University, was one of the first to study the psychological and physiological effects of laughter in the 1960s. Today, his work is considered the very basis of gelotology, as William F. Fry demonstrated that laughter increases the activity of certain cells in our immune system responsible for killing infectious pathogens that enter our bodies. 2
Is laughing really good for your health?
When we laugh, we release happy hormones (endorphins). 3 But laughter isn't just about happiness; it's also good for your health. Researchers in this field attribute several positive effects to laughter on our bodies. For example, laughter can have a positive impact on our immune system. 4 Experts have also discovered that levels of the stress hormone cortisol can be lowered through laughter. 1 Have you ever tried using laughter to combat stress? Laughter therapies have not only been shown to be helpful in reducing stress, but also in alleviating pain. 5
Humor studies give a whole new meaning to the expression "laughter is the best medicine."
Laughter can strengthen the cardiovascular system
Michael Miller, of the Department of Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and William F. Fry, who conducted research in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School in Palo Alto, discovered that "joyous laughter" can keep blood vessels healthy. 3 Their results are based on a study in which randomly selected subjects watched a comedy or humorous TV program before watching a mentally stressful movie. The subjects' blood pressure was measured during the experiment.
The study found that blood pressure measurements recorded after watching a stress-inducing movie differed from those recorded after watching a laughter-promoting comedy. 3 These results can be explained by the fact that we take in more oxygen than normal when we laugh, due to faster breathing. As a result, our pulse and blood pressure increase. Once we stop laughing, our blood pressure decreases to normal. When we are exposed to mild stress in front of serious, humorless TV shows and movies, it has the opposite effect on our blood pressure. 3
Whether it's triggered by the latest comedy or a funny situation in our daily lives, laughter can stimulate blood circulation and strengthen the cardiovascular system as a whole.
Laughter can have a positive effect on the immune system
Negative thoughts can trigger chemical reactions and thus induce stress, which can weaken our immunity. Positive thoughts and genuine laughter, on the other hand, can help reduce stress, strengthen the immune system and protect our bodies from disease. 4 Happiness contributes to our mental health. Lee S. Berk believes that happiness can also be an effective immune response. 1
In a study conducted with the collaboration of other researchers specialized in the field, Lee S. Berk aimed to discover whether humor therapy and the joyful laughter it provokes can actually exert a preventive function and a positive effect on our immune system. 6 To this end, 52 healthy male volunteers watched a humorous video. Their blood samples were taken before, during, and after viewing. The researchers concluded that laughter combined with humor can have a positive effect on our immune system. 6
Laughter to counter pain: the most natural remedy
We all know that laughing makes us happy. But have you ever considered endorphins as natural painkillers? Laughter can not only strengthen our immune system; it can also be used as therapy.
British researchers have found that laughter is associated with a higher pain threshold. 5 Using a similar method to that employed by their counterparts specializing in the field of laughter, they first had the study subjects watch funny comedies and serious documentaries. They then expanded their investigations to test the effects of laughter on pain threshold, even under natural conditions, during a comedy theater performance. The subjects underwent a pain threshold test before and after watching the video clips or the play.
In both cases, the results of the British research group confirmed that our pain threshold is significantly higher when we laugh. 5 If we are serious or not laughing heartily, our pain threshold remains unchanged or may even decrease. According to researchers specializing in the field, the best explanation lies in the effect that the happy hormones released by laughter have on pain.
Laughter to combat stress: a simple form of relaxation
Laughter gives us a burst of energy and the opportunity to completely let go. In fact, laughter can be an excellent stress reducer. 4 In his extensive studies in the field of gelotology, Lee S. Berk discovered that laughter can cause positive stress (eustress) and thus reduce negative stress (distress). 1 This stress reduction induced by laughter is due to the fact that laughter reduces the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in our body.
A study conducted at Indiana State University Sycamore Nursing Center also showed that laughter can reduce stress. 7 The research group analyzed the response of 33 healthy female subjects to humorous videos and videos about tourism. A decrease in stress markers was observed in the group that watched humorous videos that provoked laughter, while the stress levels of the other group remained the same.
Laughter can also reduce the physical symptoms of stress because it can stimulate blood circulation and cause muscle relaxation (two reactions that can help reduce stress). 4
Laughter, a sports workout?
Do you ever wake up with sore muscles even though you didn't exercise the day before? If so, you probably had a fit of laughter! When we laugh, we contract up to 300 muscles, mainly in the face, chest, and stomach. Just like our muscles, our respiratory system is stimulated during a fit of laughter. 3 Our lungs expand, and our abdominal muscles and chest stretch, working the body as a whole.
When we exercise, our bodies are very active for a short period of time. Our heart pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, and our metabolism is boosted. When we laugh, our bodies react in a similar way. 8
However, people who laugh a lot must also practice physical activity And eat well .
Have you ever heard of laughter yoga? It's no joke, this variation of yoga really exists! Laughter yoga is based on the idea that you can practice laughing on your own and reap the benefits. 9 Laughter yoga is a widespread practice today, so you'll have no trouble finding a club near you. Give it a try and take care of yourself while you laugh!
Strengthening our relationships through humor
Laughter not only affects our health, but also our relationships. As Victor Borge so aptly pointed out, laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Laughing with someone can strengthen our relationship with that person and our mutual understanding. 3 Besides, isn't it nice to share your laughter with other people?
Whether in private life or at work, laughter promotes a healthy and harmonious environment. Laughing together can actually facilitate communication and collaboration. 3 In times of stress or conflict, laughter can defuse the situation and promote teamwork.
Take life with a touch of humor. This will help strengthen your health and your social environment.
- https://news.llu.edu/research/laughter-fool-proof-prescription [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- “Live Better: A Healthy Laugh” in SA Mind 16, 3, 90–91 (October 2005) doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind1005-90 [ ↩ ]
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814549/ [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456 [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2011.1373 [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11253418/ [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12652882/ [ ↩ ]
- https://www.planet-wissen.de/gesellschaft/psychologie/lachen/pwieistlachenwirklichgesund100.html [ ↩ ] [ ↩ ]
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262535370_The_impact_of_laughter_yoga_on_subjective_well-being_A_pilot_study [ ↩ ]