It seems that laughing causes hormones to be released that help prevent ill health. Interestingly the more a person laughs the more they feel like laughing and the easier they find it to laugh. It is almost as if the body knows it's a good thing and self-perpetuates the habit.
People who laugh are often vibrant, happy and relaxed individuals, who like nothing more than to engage other people in their habit. We all know that laughing is deliciously contagious, so the health benefits can be spread among a group of happy people.
Laughing also provides an emotional context in which to interact with other people and to signal that we feel positive and engaged in the discourse.
So, why is laughing so healthy?
Laughter causes chemical changes in the body. The rate of release of enzymes and hormones is changed. These chemicals are essential for the normal functioning of the body. During laughter there is stimulation of the connections between the brain and different glands responsible for releasing hormones into the blood.
Here are the many reasons to laugh.
Laughter reduces the levels of the hormones cortisol, adrenaline and growth hormone, all of which are involved in the body's response to stress. Thus there is a direct chemical link between laughing and reducing stress, anxiety, depression, anger and irritation. During times of grief laughter can also reduce the level of sadness felt .
Laughter boosts the immune system and so increases the chances of fighting
off a disease or infection or even tumour. There are proteins in the blood called immunoglobulins. They are involved in the immune response and laughter causes an increase in the level of these proteins. There are two types of cells also involved in the immune response called natural killer cells and T cells and the quantities of these are also increased during laughter.
Laughter is a method of pain relief that works by increasing the release of a hormone called endorphin. A study carried out on children found that when they were shown comedy films they tolerated pain more readily. There are some current trials where comedy films are being shown to children who are being prepared for general anaesthesia.
Laughter helps to keep diabetes in check. In a study, people shown a comedy film during a meal had reduced blood sugar spikes after the meal compared to those who watched a serious video.
Laughter reduces allergic responses to allergens, including pollens in hay fever.
Laughter improves concentration, attentiveness, pulse and heart rates.
Laughter is beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension). The action of laughing causes blood vessels to expand. Some scientists believe this is due to the movement of the diaphragm (a large, dome-shaped band of muscle stretched below the rib cage) during laughter. It also causes deeper breathing and an increase in blood flow and has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease.
The act of laughing flexes and contracts many muscles, for example respiratory, abdominal, back, leg and of course facial. It also helps the intestine to function and acts to massage some of the internal organs.
Laughing also offers psychological health benefits. Mental health improves, self-confidence and a sense of wellbeing are promoted and it has also been proven to aid patients recovering from depression and anxiety.
You need to try out the tenth reason – recall a hilarious situation you have been in and have one of those private chuckles to yourself – you will feel much better having done so!
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