Laughter: 5 things you may not know about the health benefits of laughing

LAUGHTER: GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Victor Borge

Laughter is a universal language. Regardless of ethnicity, race or culture; we all understand what a laugh represents, and often cannot avoid the contagiousness of it. It’s undeniable – laughter make us feel good and takes the edge off of seemingly difficult situations. I remember once having a heated argument with my husband when I raised my hand in anger and inadvertently flung my tuna fish sandwich over my shoulder, making a complete mess of the kitchen. We both burst out laughing, and amazingly, the argument was lost to a fit of laughter. To this day, I could not tell you what we were arguing about, but I am smiling to myself right now as I write this, easily recalling how good it felt to laugh that hard with someone I love.

The act of laughter itself has many positive benefits for the body. It reduces stress and tension by relaxing the sympathetic (fight or flight) branch of our nervous system. The physical act of laughing produces muscular reactions which trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the brain chemicals known for their feel-good effect; endo- referring to endogenous (inside) and -orphin relating to morphine; referring to “a morphine-like substance originating from within the body”. Laughter, literally, produces opiates in your brain that make you feel good.

The convulsive nature creates a dramatic movement of the diaphragm which stimulates the vagus nerve.Vagal nerve stimulation initiates the release of an array of anti-stress enzymes and hormones such as acetylcholine, prolactin, vasopressin, and oxytocin and is associated with benefits such as improved memory, immune function, sleep and higher levels of growth hormone. Vagal nerve stimulation may also help tame inflammation, allergic responses, and tension headaches. Uncontrolled convulsive laughter also frees up muscular tension within the body, helping people let go of anger and tension, almost like a total body massage. The movements of laughter moves lymph  blood around your body, boosting your immune system and helping the body to clear out toxins and waste products from your cells.

Laughter is physical exercise. The harder you laugh, the greater the workout. Have you ever had the experience of laughing so hard that your stomach muscles hurt the next day? What could be better than that? A workout you were laughing through. That’s the best kind of exercise we can give ourselves. Laughing increases oxygenation of your body. While laughing we bring in vast amounts of oxygen, as if we were exercising. These deep breaths saturate our bodies with oxygen, producing a literal, “natural high”. The process of laughter causes us to use our respiratory system very quickly and strenuously for a short amount of time. This intense activity stimulates an increase in the blood flow as the heart rate increases temporarily, thus increasing the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain and muscles. Increased oxygen levels to the brain promote healthier brain function.

Additionally, pulmonary activity gets a boost from laughter as well, because there is a higher level of ventilation of the lungs during robust episodes of “mirthful laughter”. Along with the improved brain function that laughter can provide, it can also work to improve memory in a different way. The connections and associations that the brain forms while “learning” can be widened and made more complex by combining basic learning with a positive emotional response like laughter. By varying the levels of association with different parts of our brain (pleasure, amusement, logic, reason, etc.) remembering facts and recalling details is easier when paired with laughter and humor.

Lastly, laughter helps us to feel connected and enhances social contact. Although we all laugh to ourselves from time to time, the real blow out belly laughter that produces breathlessness and stomach pains usually comes in a social setting. In fact, there is a new branch of yoga called Laughter Yoga where the participants are encouraged to just start laughing. At first this may feel uncomfortable, but before you know it everyone is caught up in the throes of laughter.

So I encourage all of you to look for the humor in any situation you can. In these uncertain times, the world needs us to be laughing more, complaining less. Anyone can laugh when times are good, but the true test is to start looking for the humor and laughter when times are hard. This skill creates emotional resilience which is one of the most positive benefits of laughter. It provides strength in adversity, a coping mechanism to help us keep a positive mental attitude regardless of circumstances.

Can’t find anything to laugh about in your life right now? Then get active and start looking. One of my favorite tricks is to watch America’s Funniest Home Videos. Oh man, that can get me rolling in a matter of minutes; rent some funny videos, or look up a favorite movie scene on YouTube. Here is one of my favorite go to movie scenes that makes me laugh every time; check out Classic “Caddy Shack” doodie in pool on YouTube and see if that helps lighten your mood. If you are really stuck, go find a kid, they are the best at taking life lightly and laughing at just about anything. Find a way to get laughter into your life every day, it is an invaluable gift to give yourself and your life will thank you for it.

For more personalized coaching on how to incorporate more laughter and joy into your life please contact Lara Kain at TORCH Center for Wellness.