Go Forth and Laugh

The Science Behind Your Smile: Why Laughter Is Serious Medicine

My mom was the inspiration for me to create the World Change Coalition and Cathy’s Jeans.  I draw on memories of her and the many things she taught me and that I saw were important to her along her journey for my blog posts.  One of the things I fondly remember was her laugh.  It always brought me feelings of contentment and joy.  I still have great memories of her laugh.

Those memories made me wonder a little more about the importance and power of laughter.  Many people seem to believe that your sense of humor and laughter might be one of your body's most powerful health tools. Some research has suggested that laughter doesn't just lift our spirits, but it can create amazing changes in our body.  Laughter can release our bodies’ feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin while lowering cortisol (our stress hormone). These aren't just fleeting changes; they can have lasting, positive impacts on our physical and mental well-being.

Studies have also revealed that laughing can positively affect our immune system, reduce pain, and even improve memory.  

Further, researchers at the Harvard Medical School found that shared laughter strengthens social bonds and validates emotions.

The Hidden Power of Laughter: More Than Just Medicine

When was the last time you had a good laugh?  I am not talking about a polite chuckle, but the kind that makes your stomach muscles ache and tears stream down your face. According to increasing scientific evidence, those moments of laughter could be doing more for your health than you realize.

While researchers still haven't determined exactly why humans evolved to laugh, they've uncovered fascinating insights about what happens in our bodies when we do. Dr. Natalie Dattilo, former director of psychology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School instructor, explains that laughter triggers a cascade of positive effects throughout our body and brain.

Physical Benefits: More Than Just Feel-Good Moments

The physical benefits of laughter might surprise you. Studies have shown that a good laugh can:

1.        Laughter impacts our cardiovascular system in ways similar to exercise. While it's not a replacement for your gym session, laughter does increase blood flow and promote healthy circulation. The deep breaths we take while laughing, combined with the engagement of our abdominal muscles, can create a workout-like effect.

2.        Pain management is another unexpected benefit. In a 2011 study, researchers tested participants' pain tolerance by having them watch funny videos before subjecting their arms to freezing temperatures. What that showed was those who had been laughing had higher pain tolerance. This isn't just coincidence as laughter triggers the release of endorphins, our body's natural painkillers.

Mental Health: A Natural Antidepressant

There are also mental health benefits with laughter. In clinical settings, healthcare professionals are increasingly recognizing laughter's therapeutic potential. Dattilo, who uses laughter in treating depression, considers it a crucial tool in non-medication-based approaches to mental health.

"When you're not regularly activating the pleasure/reward centers of the brain they go offline," Dattilo explains. "So, in order to feel good, we have to practice feeling good. And laughing is one of the most cost-effective ways to do that."

Laughter in Healthcare

The medical community is taking note. A comprehensive analysis of 21 studies involving over 1,600 children and adolescents in hospitals found that exposure to hospital clowns significantly reduced anxiety during medical procedures. These benefits held true whether parents were present or not, suggesting that laughter itself has inherent therapeutic value.

Bringing Laughter Back

Despite these benefits, many adults find themselves laughing less as they age. "As adults, we don't laugh nearly as much as we used to," Dattilo notes. "The idea that we would have fun, play, and make time for those things is often seen as a reward or something you have to earn or something you do when the work is done. But the work is never done."

This realization has led to innovative approaches like laughter yoga (originated around 1995), which turns traditional cause-and-effect on its head by using voluntary laughter to trigger genuine physiological benefits.

Practical Steps to More Laughter

In a world where healthcare costs continue to rise and stress seems unavoidable, laughter offers a surprisingly potent remedy. It's time we took it more seriously – or perhaps more accurately, less seriously. After all, sometimes the best medicine really is the simplest.

If you want to incorporate more laughter into your life, seek out humor through comedy shows, funny movies, or time with friends who make you laugh.

While laughter shouldn't be considered a replacement for medical care or treatment, it's a powerful complementary tool for overall health and wellness. Best of all, as Dattilo points out, it's "free for the most part, with no side effects and has no contraindications."

The next time you find yourself holding back a laugh, remember: those giggles might be doing more good than you think. Go ahead and unleash them!

As always, I thank you for reading my blog and grateful for you following and supporting the World Change Coalition.  Bless each of you!! 

I will close with this:  A horse walks into a bar.  The bartender looks up at the horse and says, “Hey, why the long face?”

Go forth and laugh!! RCB