By Sarah Gibson | Collective Evolution
Laughter really is the best medicine. I mean, we can see it all around us. We see children in the play area, running around laughing and smiling and living in the moment, while their parents sit on the side, full of the stresses of day-to-day life and only the occasional smile breaking their otherwise serious faces. People on their death beds often say they wish they had laughed more. Don’t be that person! We could all do with a bit more laughter… And you’re about to find out why! Here’s the 411.
Why Do We Laugh, Biologically?
Research suggests that laughter and humor help the human brain process conflict around us. The dopamine that is released in our brains when we find something funny makes us feel good. It releases tension, increases motivation, memory and attention and helps us process pain management.
So How, Exactly, Is Laughing Good For You?
Okay, so we all know that it feels good to laugh. When it comes down to the physical changes that occur in our brains, dopamine is released and can dissolve stress, relax and recharge us, and help relieve pain – a golden triangle of good feelings!
But, recent studies have shown that we might be healthier by laughing more often, too. It’s one of nature’s many medicines. And here are some reasons how…
1. Stress Reduction
As well as increasing dopamine and reducing stress, laughter also decreases the hormones which make us feel stressed in the first place: cortisol and epinephrine. These hormones also play a role in the immune system by making it less effective… So get rid of these nasties with a good dose of the giggles!
Talking of our immune systems…
2. Antibodies
Some studies have shown that the ability to use humour might be associated with higher levels of infection-busting antibodies in our bodies. In fact, there’s a whole field of study dedicated to this issue: psychoneuroimmunology. Don’t take my word for it – Google it!
3. Reducing Blood Pressure
There’s a reason that they call high blood pressure the “silent killer” – because most people don’t know they’ve got it. Laughter can help decrease it, and increase your lifespan. In fact, laughter is said to lower blood pressure as much as cutting out salt from your diet can… Awesome!
Watch this video and see Byron Katie move a man from fear to laughter in just minutes. Read this and find out how laughter affects the body like exercise. And read this article to discover how laughter improves your memory.
