The healing powers of humor and laughter have been scientifically researched, and the evidence indicates that finding humor in daily life, and (especially spontaneous) laughter corresponds with positive health effects.
Laughter has been shown to decrease cortisol levels by over 30%, reducing stress and inflammation, which in turn reduces risk of cardiovascular and other inflammation-related diseases, including dementia. Indeed, the reduction in stress hormones resulting from laughter is believed to contribute to healthier aging overall.
Laughter has also been shown to be an effective medicine for pain management. Not so much because pain is reduced, but because the endorphins that are released as a result alter our perception of pain.
And, of course, there is the positive impact that laughter has on mental health. In addition to reduced stress, laughter has been found to result in significant reductions in anxiety and depression, through increases in dopamine and oxytocin, as well as endorphins.
That increase in oxytocin has added benefit for social bonding. It is well known that social connections are vital for healthy aging, and laughing strengthens social bonds, enhancing the pleasure of our social interactions. In fact, spontaneous group laughter seems to have the most powerful effect of all.
This doesn’t mean you get no benefit from other kinds of laughter. Watching funny movies, reading comedic writing, and even some forced laughter practices, like “laughter yoga,” can have positive health effects. These results come from reinforcing a habit of humor: increasing your capacity to find humor in life.
So, whatever gets you giggling, make it a daily practice. Your heart and your psyche will thank you.
