Laughter Is The Best Medicine

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." This saying is one of the many adages that imply that laughing has medical benefits. Children have no problem finding things to laugh about, but as we get older, we tend to forget how to smile. If you are an older adult who feels that they should laugh more often, perhaps these medical reasons will be a good incentive.

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Laughing can boost your immune system

One study conducted on post-partum mothers in 2015, researchers tested hand expressed breast milk for antibodies called immunoglobulin before and after therapy. The participants engaged in "laughter dance routines" while inducing laughter. Mothers who underwent laughter therapy had increased levels of immunoglobulin in their breast milk.

Another study conducted on college students showed that watching funny movies increased the levels of salivary IgA. Also, laughter increased the body's natural killer cells.

If you feel a little below the weather, having a good laugh may be just what the body needs to increase its disease-fighting abilities.

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Laughter may Reduce Blood Pressure levels

High blood pressure is one of the common conditions facing older adults. The state has dangerous side effects, including increased risk for heart disease and stroke. One study involving 40 patients undergoing hemodialysis while listening to comic shows over eight weeks showed a decrease in blood pressure during the sessions.

Another study conducted in 2011, a three-month study compared the results of exposing participants to either music or laughter therapy. After the treatment, blood pressure readings showed that those in the laughter therapy had lower blood pressure readings.

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Laughter can reduce anxiety and stress levels

The ability to maintain a sense of humor during tough times is one skill that can be harnessed throughout life. The strength of laughter to reduce anxiety was tested in one study involving 53 college students. The students were falsely made to believe that they would receive an electric shock after a waiting period.

While waiting, participants were divided into three groups-one listened to the non-humorous tape, the second listened to nothing, and the third listened to a humorous tape. The humor group reported less anxiety during the waiting period.

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Laughter can act as an anti-depressant

The moment you are laughing, you are not thinking of anything depressing, which means you are in a healthy mental state. The good news is, researchers, show reduced depression and improved mood after a bout of laughter. According to one study, three one hour laughter therapy sessions improved depression and negativity of cancer patients.

In another study, the effects of laughter therapy on 42 residents of two long term care facilities showed promising results. The laughter therapy included eight 40 minute sessions done two times a week. The treatment included things such as laughing aloud, singing funny songs, and laughing exercises. After the trial period, results showed reduced depression and improved mood in those who joined the therapy session.

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Laughter can relieve pain

Ancient surgeons knew the power of a good laugh and even used them to help distract patients from the pain of surgery and during recovery. In modern times, research shows that patients who watched funny videos required less pain medication than those who watched other genres.

In another study conducted in 2011, social laughter was found to elevate pain thresholds. According to the author of the study, the possible explanation was that laughter releases endorphin, which may lower pain perception.

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Laughter strengthens relationships

Relationships with family and friends are likely to thrive when there is always a dose of laughter. Shared laugh builds strong relationship bonds while adding joy and resilience. Humor is also a great way to solve any disagreements or misunderstanding and uniquely unites people.

Laughter strengthens relationships because it triggers positive feelings that foster a secure emotional connection. In addition to keeping you positive, laughter helps you to be more spontaneous and stop thinking about your worries. A good dose of laughter can also help you let go of criticisms and doubts and let you express your true feelings in a safe environment.

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Laughter protects your heart

An interesting study in 2009 discovered the benefits of laughter to the cardiovascular system. During the study, participants were divided into two groups and made to watch opposite genres. One group watched the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, which is known to increase mental stress. The other group attended a comedy like Saturday Night Live.

The blood flow of both groups was then examined, and the group who watched the stressful movie showed a 35% reduction in circulation while the comedy group had a 22 % in FMD.

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Laughter calms stress hormones

Laughter reduces levels of cortisol and epinephrine, which are stress hormones that are responsible for anxiety. Having a good laugh activates the dopamine system in the brain, which is also known as the reward center of the brain. With increased dopamine levels, you will feel less anxious, more joyful, and content.

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Laughter can help burn calories

As if all the above reasons weren't good enough, laughter can even burn calories. According to one study published in 2014, those who laugh burned up to 10 calories in 10 minutes. The researchers broke a group of 45 participants into two groups, half of which watched funny movies for 10 minutes while the other half watched non-comical movies. After the exercise, their energy expenditure and heart rate were monitored, and those who didn't laugh didn't burn any calories.

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Tips to Bring more laughter into your life

Although laughter is inborn and infants learn how to smile within the first few weeks of their life, this gift is sometimes lost later in life. Now that we have discovered all the fantastic benefits of laughter let's talk about how you can bring back the laughter into your life.

The first thing you can do is set aside time each week for humor and laughter. You can do this by perhaps setting aside a night to watch a comedy you like or do something that always makes you happy. Once you have a pattern set out, there are other steps you can take:-

Make smiling part of your being. A smile is the best curve you can have on your body, and it doesn't cost anything to share it. Practice smiling to those who pass you by on the street, your neighbors, and anyone you come in contact with daily. When you are in a restaurant or coffee shop, take time to share a smile with those serving you. You will immediately notice that when you smile, people can't help but smile back- it's that contagious!

• Gravitate towards laughter. Seek out people who are always light-hearted, happy and playful. Perhaps you have a friend who is always cracking jokes, why not be his audience and laugh at his jokes? The more you create a circle of people who laugh easily, the more laughing will come naturally.

Count your blessings. One of the hindrances to finding amusement in life's simple pleasures is negativity. To combat this disease, make a list of at least three graces you are grateful for each day. They don't have to be essential things in life, but even a simple sunrise or sunset is something to count as a blessing. The more you realize how good your life is, the less likely you are to entertain negative thoughts.

• Add humor to conversations. Instead of sticking to the traditional topics, why not add something amusing? Get the show started by sharing the funniest experience you had that week and then ask others about theirs. You'll be laughing out loud in no time!

These tips may be easier said than done if you are the type of person who doesn't see the fun in life but don't worry- you can develop your sense of humor! A straightforward tip is learning to laugh at yourself instead of taking yourself too seriously. Then, try and remember funny things that happened and reminisce about them when you want a good laugh. Lastly, take a lesson from children and learn to laugh at ordinary things in life.

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Conclusion

Laughter is indeed the best medicine in a very literal sense. Humor not only benefits us psychologically and mentally but can do wonders for our physical welfare too. The ability to laugh makes life more enjoyable, strengthens relationships, and creates a positive environment.

The ability to take life on with a smile on your face can help you think out of the box and transform problems into stepping stones. Like children, playing with problems allows you to experiment with new situations and gain control of the situation.

If you are at a stage where you find laughter difficult, there are some easy to follow tips that you can follow. For example, try smiling to people that you meet, laugh at jokes even though you don't get them, gravitate towards humorous people, and count your blessings.

As you try and make laughter part of your life, make it your goal to laugh at least once a day. The more you get used to laughing, the easier it will be.