Have you ever laughed at something so hard that it literally hurts your stomach? While that feeling could be intense, there’s good scientific evidence that laughter can bring about positive physical and mental benefits.
As it turns out, there is some truth to the old saying; laughter is the best medicine; the power of the laugh can help with everything from lifting our mood to alleviating pain. Ahead of World Laughter Day on 7 May, we look at some of the benefits of a good laugh and how it can activate your body and brain to bring joy and improve health.
The impact laughter has on our bodies has long interested scientists and has been a popular subject of study. Time and time again, research has found that laughing releases endorphins that are likened to natural painkillers. A paper published in the National Library of Medicine found that laughter in a social setting can increase an individual’s threshold for pain effectively. The paper notes that the act of laughing itself seems to be enough to push the needle for pain. “Pain-tolerance effect is due to laughter itself and not simply due to a change in positive affect,” the research found.
It’s also found that laughing can reduce stress and anxiety in a similar way; a good, hearty chuckle lowers stress-inducing cortisol levels.
Laughing is good for the soul and the heart, according to the American Heart Association. Laughing can lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and potentially lower the chances of heart attacks and strokes.
Aside from health benefits, laughing is a great way to grow and nurture interpersonal relationships. Be it bonding over a good joke or someone else's misfortune, laughing with a group of friends or colleagues can help build a sense of camaraderie.
The Journal of Nonverbal Behaviour published research that found laughter is an important social glue, and those who laugh together stick together. Laughing together signals a sense of understanding and shared world views in a way that can speed up closeness in relationships.
Getting more laughs
There are plenty of things to smile about throughout the day, and if you need a good laugh, here are some scientifically proven ways to help you crack up.
Laughter Yoga
If the idea of laughing in unison with a room full of other people lying down on their yoga mats isn’t funny enough, the prompts throughout the class to breathe and giggle will get you howling.
A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that laughter yoga can improve mood and reduce stress levels, among other benefits.
Fake it til you make it
If you have never tried laughing out loud for no reason, give it a go on World Laughter Day. Once you get a few laughs in, you might fake your system into thinking you’re experiencing something funny. You’ll also find that those around you might follow suit.
A Stanford University-led study found that those who report fake-smiling feel genuinely happier after doing so.
So next time you feel down, try putting a smile on your face and see if that will help flip your mood around.
Seek out humour
And if all else fails, switch on a standup special on Netflix or binge on your favourite comedy series to help flip that frown upside down. Watching a 30-minute comedy boost the brain’s reward system and triggers the release of endogenous opioid; the same study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that watching and laughing in a social setting with friends increases the release of greater levels of feel-good brain chemicals.
Also see: Finding joy through time well spent