缓解焦虑的7 个简单步骤| 杰斐逊中心
当您不知所措时，通常会感到失去控制。 意识和正念是帮助您重获控制和管理情绪的重要工具。 像这样的活动 瑜伽和冥想 已被证明可以通过专注于自我安抚来提供自然的焦虑缓解 ...
幽默可以帮助您恢复力量感
处理焦虑症状时，幽默和感恩的力量不可低估。 消极情绪很容易使您根深蒂固，并扭曲情况的严重程度。 在另一边 <anchor>幽默可以帮助您恢复力量感</anchor> 笑声会降低压力荷尔蒙的水平，同时会增加体内内啡肽的水平。 将注意力转移到生活中正在发生的事情上，并寻找感恩的方式可能是解决焦虑症的重要一步。
The Health Benefits of Laughter
Menu

Search

SearchClearGO

Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

# The Health Benefits of Laughter

Updated on May 08, 2024

Reviewed

Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by mental health professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.

Print

Group of girlfriends sitting on bench outdoors at sunset laughing:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/184077889-56b750495f9b5829f8383f1d.JPG)

Thomas Barwick / Iconica / Getty Images

Table of Contents

View All

Table of Contents

Trending Videos

Close this video player

Humor is one of the 24 character strengths one can possess. Even more so, this positive trait can also impact our health. Laughing regularly helps us feel better physically and mentally, even offering social benefits.

Recognizing the many health benefits of laughter can help us understand the importance of adding more humor into our lives. We also share a few things you can do to laugh more often, enabling you to maximize humor's benefits.

## Physical Health Benefits of Laughter

You may have heard the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine." This phrase sums up how taking the time to laugh can boost our physical health. Here are a few ways it does this.

### Boosts Immunity

Laughter can help strengthen our immune system by increasing antibody-producing cells and enhancing T-cell effectiveness. Stronger immunity means that we're better able to fight off the latest cold or flu bug, also reducing our risk of major disease.

### Improves Heart Health

Studies have associated laughter with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. In one particular study, researchers noted that people who laughed daily had a reduced prevalence of conditions affecting the cardiovascular system. This makes regular laughing good for the heart,

### Reduces Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Another study links laughter with a reduction in metabolic syndrome risk factors. In this study, subjects who engaged in laughter yoga (a form of yoga that utilizes simulated laughter) for 12 weeks significantly reduced their body weight, body mass index (BMI), and stress—all of which can increase one's risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Also sometimes called insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome refers to a group of factors that, together, can increase your risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and more.

### Increases Longevity

Another piece of research adds that, in addition to being associated with reduced cardiovascular disease incidences, regular laughing is also connected with reduced all-cause mortality. This suggests that laughter can enhance longevity.

### Eases Pain

The ability of laughter to ease pain was first described in 1979 by Norman Cousins in his book As Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins developed ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease characterized by chronic back pain that left him confined to bed. As his condition continued to deteriorate, he decided to take his health into his own hands, in part, by using laughter, which is when he began to improve.

More recent research confirms laughter's positive effects on pain. For instance, in a study involving 40 subjects, researchers found that their pain tolerance was favorably influenced after watching a comedy for 30 minutes, while pain tolerance decreased after viewing a documentary for the same length of time.

### Protects Physical Function

If our physical functionality declines, we can find it harder to do everyday activities such as dressing or bathing ourselves. Laughter appears to reduce the risk of developing functional disabilities, particularly when we laugh regularly and with others (more so than when laughing alone).

### Strengthens the Core

A good belly laugh is good for building strength in the trunk, particularly the abdominal muscles, even working the internal obliques more than traditional exercises. Laughing also engages muscles in the diaphragm and shoulders, giving you a good non-exercise workout.

## Mental Health Benefits of Laughter

Laughter doesn't only benefit us physically but mentally too. Here's how.

### Lowers Stress

The American Psychological Association's 2022 Stress in America report reveals that, on a scale of one to 10, most Americans place their stress levels at a five, with more than one in four indicating that their stress is so bad they can't function most days. Laughter helps by decreasing the stress hormone cortisol and reversing the stress response.

### Improves Depression

Laughing can also alter levels of neurotransmitters in the body, namely dopamine and serotonin, also increasing the release of endorphins. Together, this help improve depression symptoms.

### Serves as a Distraction

What happens when you laugh? You tend to forget about things that are bothering you. This makes laughter a good way to take the focus off of the challenges you face. It helps distract you, even if just for a moment, giving you a much-needed mental health break.

### Changes Our Perspective

When we face major tragedies or trauma in our lives, it can affect how we view the world. According to research, humor can make severe events funnier over time. This helps us keep these incidents in perspective while reducing their negative impact on our mental health.

## Social Benefits of Laughter

Laughter also helps us connect with others. Think of times when you've been with friends and laughed so hard that tears rolled down your face. Did this make you feel more connected with your friends? It's likely that your answer is yes.

Just as with smiling and kindness, most people also find that laughter is contagious. So, if you work on laughing more, you can help others laugh more and realize these benefits as well.

By elevating the mood of those around you, you can help reduce their stress levels and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!

## How to Get More Laughter In Your Life

Laughter is a great stress management strategy because it's free, convenient, and beneficial in so many ways. If you want more laughter in your life, these strategies can help.

### Laugh With Friends

Going to a movie or a comedy club with friends is a great way to get more laughter in your life. The contagious effects of laughter may mean you'll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show. Plus, you'll have jokes to reference at later times.

Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings. Making time for this kind of fun is as important as any other habit you keep in your life to support your health.

### Find Humor in Things

When facing life's frustrations, try to laugh about them. If something is so frustrating or depressing it's ridiculous, realize that you could look back on it and laugh later. Think of how it will sound like a story you could tell your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now.

With this attitude, you may also find yourself being more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful way to reduce your stress toward negative events.

### Fake It Until You Make It

Just as positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real, simulated laughter also provides benefits. The body can't tell the difference. Plus, simulated or self-initiated laughter turns into genuine laughter over time.

So, smile more and fake laughter if you need to at the beginning. You'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.

### Enjoy Humorous Media

There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from entertainment. You can find humorous media at the theater, as well as at home with movies and comedy sitcoms.

Watching funny movies and TV shows is an easy way to get laughter into your life whenever you need it. Share your favorites with friends and you'll have something to reference and laugh about together.

## Takeaways

Laughter can help improve our physical and mental health, while also helping us feel more connected socially. Look for ways to laugh more in your life, enabling you to enjoy all its benefits. Encourage your friends to do the same.

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?

Helpful
Report an Error
Other
Submit

Related Articles

Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox

Sign Up

You're in!

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

Follow Us

Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies