We are all familiar with the expressions “a day without laughter is a day wasted” and laughter is the best medicine”. But did you know that this is also scientifically proven?
A good sense of humor and the ability to laugh can definitely benefit your physical, emotional and social health.
Plus, it's much more fun than a visit to the doctor and works better than any drug, so why not give it a try?
Here are some good reasons why it would be beneficial for everyone to develop your sense of humor:
It improves emotional health
Laughter and humor activate the emotional and reward centers of the brain, releasing dopamine, which helps the brain process emotional responses and enhances the experience of pleasure; serotonin, which lifts moods; and endorphins that regulate pain and stress and induce euphoria.
Laughter mimics the euphoric states experienced when making music and dancing together. There is some evidence that these moods are related to the release of endorphins.
Laughter lowers stress and anxiety levels
Humor is described as an element of resilience and can allow you to put everyday problems into perspective, making you copingcapacities in difficult situations increase.
It reduces the adverse effects of stress on health and promotes a positive mood to cancel negative emotions. It helps to see the funny side in adverse situations.
Real laughter is also contagious, so why not help improve someone's mood by laughing with them?
Contributes to a healthy function of your blood vessels and blood flow
Laughter triggers the dilation or expansion of the tissue that lines the inner lining of blood vessels, increasing blood flow.
"It is conceivable that laughter may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease."
When you smile, your blood vessels expand, increasing blood flow throughout your body. Healthy blood flow means that your heart, muscles, arms and legs receive an optimal flow of oxygenated blood, which helps reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Laughter can thus stimulate your endothelium, the tissue that lines the inner lining of blood vessels, to expand and increase blood flow. Having a healthy endothelium can help prevent atherosclerosis (a hardening of the arteries) and cardiovascular disease.
It strengthens your immune system
Stressful experiences in everyday life suppress it immune system, even in the most unfamiliar situations such as the car not wanting to start. This increases the risk of infectious diseases and heart disease. A good sense of humor prevents stress from affecting the immune system and protects you from disease.
Laughter makes you more attractive
Studies have shown that men with a good sense of humor are found to be more attractive. In turn, men are more attracted to women who laugh at their jokes.
It makes you more comfortable to be in social situations, such as parties, which allows you to broaden your social circles. It is also claimed that having a good sense of humor during a job interview or business interview will increase your chances of being interviewed.
Laughter is believed to have been around long before humans started using speech. Therefore, there are already instinctive social cues that people are aware of in a social situation.
Laughter plays an important role in regulating conversations in people and is also important in facilitating social bonding between groups of individuals. Sense of humor is important in interpersonal communication and attraction, and an important part of social competence.
A healthy sense of humor connects friends and family and reinforces group identity. Laughter can certainly promote a happier marriage or relationship with your loved one!
In short: Laughter is good for your mind, body and soul
Laughter is a fun, free and easy way to reduce the effects of stress, pain and conflict. In fact, the health benefits can last up to 45 minutes after a good, heartfelt laugh.
Humor is a great way to create a psychological distance between you and a difficult situation, allowing you to take a fresh look at the situation and feel less overwhelmed or distraught.
Laughter is a great way to release tension, relax and naturally improve the function of your arteries to improve blood flow. All of this protects your heart by lowering your risk of a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems.
Sharing the social aspect of laughter with friends and family is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. It can also help reunite people after a disagreement or difficult situation. Humor and playful communication strengthen relationships by arousing positive feelings and fostering an emotional bond.
Laughter is the best medicine!
Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth into a smile and then smile, even if it feels a bit forced. Once you've chuckled, see how you feel. Are your muscles less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or cheerful?
That's the natural wonder of laughter!
Sources including Forbes (link), Lifehack (link), MayoClinic (link), Nature (link), Providence (link)
