Laughing and Health: No Funny Business

Laughter makes us feel good. Cracking up for even a minute or two can alter our attitude for the entire day. A little laughter goes a long way in how we feel but what about the benefits of laughing and health? While there is still research to be done, initial reports show that laughter has potentially wonderful health effects. 

 
There are a few things that are for certain about laughing and health effects. When we laugh, we breathe deeper, our pulse raises, and our blood pressure drops. This means that laughter is an excellent stress reliever, helping to deliver more oxygen to the brain and relax tense muscles. Laughter has been called a “mild workout” because of the slight raise in pulse and deeper breathing that occurs. It definitely isn’t a substitute for an exercise plan, but it definitely keeps you active.

Laughter has been used in hospitals as a form of treatment for the terminally ill, including cancer patients. This laughter therapy, as reported in this article from MSNBC, helps cancer sufferers get a little light back in their life. It transforms their attitudes from being depressed and worried to carefree and happy, even if just for a few minutes. Laughing and health benefits go hand in hand.

As this WebMd page suggests, more research needs to be done on the effects of laughing and health, but certain benefits are undeniable. According to them, laughter can help people’s immune systems fight disease, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and encourages relaxation and better quality sleep.

While we are reminded that laughter and health research is hard to come by, it is apparent after spending time cracking jokes and laughing with friends that something like laughter must be good for us. And even when we might not know for certain all of the health benefits, it is obvious that laughter is impacting us in a positive way.