Do you sometimes feel like you have no energy, like you are very tired? When that happens, try laughing out loud. Some researchers believe that laughter may be the best medicine. They say that it can not only make you feel great, but it can also restore the vitality that has been lost in the body.
"I believe that if people could add a little more laughter to their lives, they would be in a much better state," says psychologist and laugh therapist Steve Wilson. "They might even be healthier, " he adds. However, researchers are still not 100% sure whether it is the act of laughing that makes people feel better. Having a good sense of humor, a positive attitude, and support from friends and family may also be factors. However, it is clear that laughing does us good, not bad.
What happens inside our bodies when we laugh?
When we laugh, our bodies undergo a major physiological change. The muscles in our face and body tense , our pulse and blood pressure increase, and we breathe faster. This increases the amount of oxygen that reaches our tissues.
Those who believe in the benefits of laughter say it's like getting a mild workout. So some of the benefits of exercise can be achieved by laughing. "The effects of laughing and exercising are very similar," says Wilson. "Making movements like waving your arms while laughing is a great way to get your heart rate up."
According to William Fry, an early pioneer in laughter research, you can reach a certain heart rate level in less time than it takes to exercise for ten minutes on a rowing machine, that is, in one minute of laughing out loud .
Research has also found that laughing burns calories. In a small study conducted by Maciej Buchowski, a researcher at Vanderbilt University, he measured the number of calories burned while laughing. He found that laughing for 10-15 minutes burns about 50 calories .
While these results are very interesting, don't be too quick to throw your treadmill aside. A small piece of chocolate contains about 50 calories. That means, at this rate, you'd have to laugh for about 12 hours straight to lose one pound!
Other ways laughter affects our body
Laughter is not just a muscular process. It affects various systems in our body. Let's take a look at some of the findings from research.
| Effect on the body | What has been scientifically discovered |
|---|---|
| Blood Flow | Researchers at the University of Maryland showed two groups of people comedy and drama movies and studied what happened to their blood vessels. The blood vessels of those who watched the comedy movie dilated and constricted normally, but those who watched the sad movie had stiffened and restricted blood flow. |
| Immune System (Immune Response) | When stress increases, the immune system becomes less active. Some studies have shown that having a sense of humor and fun can increase the levels of antibodies and immune cells in the body that fight infections. |
| Blood Sugar Levels | In a study of 19 people with diabetes, they were asked to attend a very boring lecture after a meal. The next day, they ate the same meal and watched a comedy. Surprisingly, their blood sugar levels were lower after watching the comedy than after attending the boring lecture. |
| Relaxation and Sleep | The talk about the benefits of laughter really started with the experience of Norman Cousins. He was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful disease of the spine. He noticed that watching comedies, like Marx Brothers films, made him feel better. He said that by laughing for ten minutes, he was able to sleep for two hours without pain. |
So is laughter really the best medicine?
However, things get a little more complicated when researchers try to figure out the full impact that laughter has on our minds and bodies. Not everyone agrees.
"I'm not saying this as a bad thing, but the evidence for the health benefits of laughing is a bit weak," says psychology professor Robert Provine. He says that many of the studies on laughter are small and not very systematic. He also says that many researchers start their research with the bias of wanting to prove that "laughing has benefits."
For example, when studying the effects of laughter, the effects of similar actions, such as shouting, were not considered. "It's not clear whether the effects of laughter are different from the effects of shouting," says Provine.
One thing he acknowledges is the ability of laughter to reduce pain . In numerous studies of people in pain or discomfort, they have reported that they feel less pain when they laugh.
But there's a problem here, too. It's not clear whether watching a comedy is better than distracting yourself with anything else. "Perhaps a heart-wrenching tragedy can have the same effect," he says.
Difficulty distinguishing cause and effect
The biggest problem with laughter research is that it's hard to say exactly what cause and effect it is. Imagine, a study shows that people who laugh more get sick less often. Could it be that healthy people have more things to laugh about? Or, among people with the same illness, people who laugh more have more energy. But it could also be that the personality of people who laugh more is better at dealing with problems.
So it's very difficult to say whether laughter is really an agent of change, or a sign of an underlying good state of mind.
Let's laugh for a good quality of life
Provine believes that laughter is just one part of a bigger picture. "Laughter is a social thing. So the health benefits may not actually come from laughing, but from being close to friends and family."
His own research has found that we are thirty times more likely to laugh when we are with others than when we are alone. People who laugh a lot may have stronger bonds with those around them. This may also have health benefits.
Even Wilson admits that there are limits to what we know about the benefits of laughter. "Laughing a lot can make you healthier, but we don't know for sure," he says. "I would never want people to laugh just to stay healthy . Because if they do, they'll be disappointed one day."
But we all know that laughing, being with friends and family, and being happy makes us feel good and rejuvenated. Although scientific studies don't exactly show why, the experience is true.
So in the end, both Wilson and Provine agree that whether or not laughter actually improves your health or increases your energy, it cannot be denied that it improves your quality of life .
As Provine asks, "I'm not against laughter. I'm saying, if we want to laugh, then that's all we have to do? Does that require a prescription from a doctor?"
Take-Home Message
- Laughter is like a little exercise for the body. It activates muscles, improves heart rate, and improves blood circulation.
- According to some research, laughter may also help with blood vessel function, the immune system, and blood sugar control.
- Although there is not yet 100% scientific evidence confirming the health benefits of laughter, it certainly doesn't cause any harm.
- The greatest and most important benefit of laughter is the improvement in our quality of life through the mental relaxation, happiness, and social connections it brings with it.
- Remember, even though laughter can provide mental well-being, if you have any physical condition, you should definitely see your doctor and seek proper medical advice .
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