3 Scientific Reasons Why Laughter Is Good for You

You’ve heard the expression: “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Every time I laugh, I notice how my mood becomes brighter and my thoughts move in a positive direction.

People engage in all sorts of activities and behaviors — some of which are unhealthy — to improve their moods. They drink alcohol, smoke, or vape. Some even resort to drugs. But did you know that laughter can provide some of the same benefits as these unhealthy habits?

Laughter is a drug in a sense, but it’s available to you without a doctor’s prescription and it doesn’t cost a dime. Yet, you might overlook the simple fact that laughter can make you feel better.

Laughter is an emotion that we often use in social settings. We resort to laughter not only as a way to respond to a joke or comment but as a way to bond with people in social settings.

And there is science behind the fact that when you laugh at someone’s jokes you instantly feel better. That’s because there’s a relationship between laughter and the chemicals released in your brain when you laugh.

That said, here are 3 physical and psychological benefits of laughter.

Laughter Releases Endorphins in the Brain

Have you ever found that when you feel down and your friend comes over or calls you on the phone, you feel better afterward? Or maybe you just came off a Zoom meeting with your colleague? You exchange some conversation and a few laughs, and then you find that your mood is happier.

That’s because laugher activates the release of serotonin. One study shows that laughter releases endorphins in the human brain — feel-good chemicals that make you euphoric. These chemicals attach to opioid receptors in the same way drugs such as heroin do. Laughter also releases serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and it’s a chemical found in SSRI’s anti-depressant medications. And what’s more, the feel-good effect lingers for some time.

Laughter is a great way to counteract stress. A little bit of laughter each day can go a long way. You can find simple ways to laugh throughout the day — you can take a break and watch a funny YouTube video, watch a comedy, or laugh at someone’s joke.

Since laughter has the power to alter chemical structures within the brain, it’s also effective in treating people with depression. Because laughter has therapeutic benefits, many medical communities have incorporated laughter as a form of therapy into traditional therapies.

Laughter Protects You From Cardiovascular Disease

Research shows that laughter can help protect you from cardiovascular disease by reducing the level of cortisol — a stress hormone that contributes to inflammation. Whether you’re someone with heart disease or looking for a great preventive measure to avoid heart problems, you can incorporate some form of laugher into your daily routine.

According to a new study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical center, laughter can help protect you against a heart attack. People who had heart disease laughed 40 percent less than those people of the same age who had no heart disease. So having a sense of humor and being able to approach situations humorously will help you to keep your heart healthy.

Dr. Michael Miller, M.D., the director of the research study at the University of Maryland Medical Center says that the ability to laugh or learning how to laugh can have big implications in countries like the U.S where the number one killer is heart disease.

He says,

“We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list.”

Laughter Promotes Social Bonds

Have you ever noticed when you share laughter with someone you immediately start feeling better? That’s because social laughter is contagious. One person laughing sets off a chain of laughter that helps people bond in a social setting. Many times when you hear someone laughing you instinctively start laughing too. That shows how powerful the effect of laughter is that we pick up on it even though we can’t pinpoint the exact reason why we laugh.

Additionally, laughter helps to build nurturing relationships. Just as it’s important in building stronger social bonds, laughter is also essential to sustaining relationships. According to research, couples who laugh together report more satisfaction in their relationships.

In another study, it was found that women highly value a sense of humor in men and prefer a mate who has that trait. Similarly, men also tend to prefer women who laugh a lot.

The Bottom Line

Laughter is therapeutic and has many physical and psychological benefits. Anyone can benefit from a little laughter in their lives. Laughter can raise your mood, protect you from cardiovascular disease, promote social bonds, and help you sustain nurturing relationships.