Laughter: A Boost for Your Health and Well-being?
Laughter, a universal expression found in at least 65 nonhuman animal species, is more than just a simple sound. According to numerous studies, it offers a myriad of health benefits for both our minds and bodies.
Laughter has been linked to achieving goals and improving personal development. To reap these benefits, one should seek sources of joyful laughter, such as funny books, movies, conversations with loved ones, and playful antics with pets, children, or friends. Experimentation is key to understanding its benefits and usefulness for each individual.
However, it's essential to note that not all laughter is a sign of pleasure or joy. Researchers classify laughter into various types, such as schadenfreude, tickling, friendly-joyful, taunting, affiliative, de-escalative, and power.
Several studies suggest that laughter may improve certain aspects of physical or mental health. For instance, a 2021 study found that a laughter yoga therapy intervention could reduce perceptions of pain and improve sleep in people undergoing hemodialysis. Another study of 56 people with cancer found that laughter therapy could improve quality of life, with better cognitive function and lower pain intensity for those who engaged in laughter therapy.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis cautions that there is insufficient current evidence to support laughter therapies. However, it found preliminary evidence that laughter may improve mental health. A more recent systematic review and meta-analysis from 2022 reinforces this, finding associations between laughter and an improvement in mental health.
The study of laughter is an emerging field, with most studies on the benefits of laughter being small and the data not always reliable. Nevertheless, a 2020 systematic scoping review found laughter to be an important self-care tool that aids personal development.
It's important to approach the encouragement of emotional expression with caution. Encouraging only joyful emotional expression can lead to toxic positivity, which can undermine health. Instead, maintaining a balanced emotional expression is key to overall well-being.
Laughter, physiologically, reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, stimulates the release of endorphins (natural painkillers and mood elevators), improves blood circulation and oxygenation, relaxes muscles, and lowers blood pressure. Psychologically, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, emotional balance, resilience, optimism, and a more positive mental state. Additionally, laughter boosts immune function by increasing infection-fighting cells and antibodies, helping protect against illness.
In summary, laughter acts as a natural "medicine," improving mental and physical health through hormonal, cardiovascular, immune, muscular, and neurological pathways. Whether it's a hearty laugh at a funny joke or the practice of Laughter Yoga, incorporating laughter into daily life can provide numerous health benefits.
- Beyond neurology, laughter also contributes to pain management, as a 2021 study discovered that laughter yoga therapy could reduce perceptions of pain in people undergoing hemodialysis.
- While the scientific community continues to explore the benefits of laughter for health-and-wellness, a 2020 systematic scoping review deemed laughter an important self-care tool for mental health and personal development.
- Beyond alternative medicine, laughter has shown promise in enhancing mental health, with a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis reinforcing preliminary evidence from a previous study in 2019.
- Laughter's influence on mental health is not limited to specific therapies, as a 2019 study of 56 people with cancer found that laughter could improve quality of life with better cognitive function and lower pain intensity.
- In addition to traditional dentistry, laughter might offer benefits that extend to mental-health, such as promoting emotional balance, resilience, and optimism through the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
