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Many have heard that laughter prolongs life. But is there any scientific evidence that the manifestation of joy has a beneficial effect on human health and well-being, or is it just another myth?
Why should we laugh
It is clear that life without humor becomes gloomy and contributes to stress, and stress can cause almost any disease. But most of us do not even realize that the phrase about the healing properties of laughter has very real scientific evidence. Recently, scientists are increasingly finding evidence that people whose lives lack healthy humor are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases than cheerful people.
Scientists believe that laughter, especially spontaneous laughter, can not only improve mood, but also prevent a variety of ailments. In addition, during laughter, substances are produced in the body that create an analgesic effect.
Sincere laughter restores a positive emotional state, and also helps to establish a connection between people. Some researchers even believe that the main function of laughter is to bring people together.
What happens to the body when we laugh
Each of us knows the saying that laughter is health. But few people understand how much truth is contained in these words. French neurologist Henri Rubinstein studied laughter for many years. In 2003, he wrote the book Psychosomatics of Laughter, where he described in detail its influence on the physiological and psychological processes in the body.
Laughter affects many organs of our body, improving their functioning. Take, for example, the respiratory system. When we start laughing, instead of the usual 1 liter of air, we inhale about one and a half. Why is it good? The fact that the body is stronger and faster saturated with oxygen.
During laughter, breathing quickens, heart rate increases, and blood pressure temporarily rises. Due to this effect, the blood circulates faster through the vessels and the body is also enriched with oxygen faster.
When we laugh, we activate the ribs and abdominal muscles, which in turn improves blood flow from the abdomen towards the heart.
When a person smiles, facial muscles are activated. And this is an excellent prevention of sagging skin and wrinkles.
In addition, during the fun in the body increases the production of endorphins, otherwise known as hormones of happiness. These substances have been proven to help relieve toothache, headache, and muscle pain.
Laughter relaxes the body, relieving tension and stress. Scientists have found that after sincere laughter for another 45 minutes, the body is in a state of relaxation.
In addition, laughter can be seen as a mild and rather specific form of physical activity. This is a kind of training for the muscles of the face, chest, shoulders, abdomen and diaphragm. It turns out that 10 minutes of moderate-intensity laughter can burn about 50 calories. That is why it is sometimes called “inside running”.
How laughter affects a person
Most of us feel much better after laughing. Why does this happen and how can a cheerful mood affect the functioning of various systems and organs of the human body?
Increases pain threshold
Research shows that laughter can improve the well-being of people who are constantly in pain, such as those caused by chronic illnesses. The results of scientific observations have allowed specialists to conclude that the manifestation of joy reduces pain and makes it easier to endure discomfort. Scientists explain this fact by the phenomenon of distraction. Simply put, the laugher is focused on a different type of sensation, forgetting that something is hurting him. But there is another theory that explains the relationship between pain and laughter, based on the role of endorphins. The so-called happiness hormones act as a natural pain reliever, while causing a state of mild euphoria.
Protects the heart
Laughter improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, is a good prevention of heart attacks and other cardiac problems. Experts have found that laughter has an anti-inflammatory effect, and also protects blood vessels and heart muscle, thereby preventing the development of cardiac disorders. The mechanism of the protective function of laughter for the cardiovascular system is not yet well understood, but researchers suggest that the beneficial effect is achieved by reducing the body’s susceptibility to stress.
Improves brain function
There is evidence that joy and laughter improve brain function. In particular, in the brain of laughing people, a protein substance, known in science as a neurotrophic factor, is released, which stimulates the growth of new neurons and improves the interaction between them.
In the course of studying the nature of laughter, scientists also found that different types of this emotion activate different parts of the brain. So, benevolent humor and caustic mockery activate completely different parts of the brain. In other words, any kind of laughter is always a “warm-up” for the brain.
Strengthens immunity
Some scientific studies show that laughter increases the body’s resistance to infections. To prove this theory, scientists conducted an experiment involving two groups of volunteers. One was offered to watch a comedy, the other a drama film. After the film show, it turned out that in the body of those who watched the comedy, the number of antibodies responsible for resisting respiratory infections increased.
The theory of the influence of positive emotions on immunity was confirmed by the results of other scientific experiments. This time, scientists have found confirmation that 60 minutes of sincere laughter helps improve the functioning of the immune system over the next 12 hours.
Normalizes sugar
During laughter, the amount of sugar in the blood decreases, glucose tolerance increases, which is very useful for people with diabetes. On the contrary, negative emotions such as anger and sadness lead to an increase in blood glucose. Beneficial effects of laughter on blood sugar levels in diabetics are explained by scientists as an increase in muscle function and effects on the endocrine system.
Relieves stress
Stress is called the main scourge of our time. But scientists have found a way to effectively, and most importantly, pleasantly deal with the consequences of stressful situations. Experts advise just to laugh. Humor helps create a positive mood and is an excellent antidote to stressful situations. And all because during laughter, stress hormones cease to be produced in the body.
Increases stress resistance
Stress-resistant people perceive any failures not as a personal defeat, but as one of the stages on the path to success. Stress resistance makes a person more successful and happy. Laughter helps to develop this quality. The ability to admit one’s own mistakes without getting upset and the ability to laugh at oneself help a person to perceive stressful situations more easily.
Works as a natural antidepressant
Humor is the best way to get out of depression. This emotion affects the human body in exactly the same way as antidepressants. Laughter activates the release of serotonin (also known as the happiness hormone). But so far, scientists cannot say for sure how long the antidepressant effect of laughter on the brain lasts.
By the way, not only sincere, but also forced laughter (when a person smiles without much desire) will help overcome depression. It turns out that even such “forced” laughter promotes the release of neuropeptides and dopamine, which also lead to an improvement in mood.
In addition, during laughter, endorphins are produced in the body. These are natural morphine-like compounds that increase the pain threshold, cause sedation and a feeling of mild euphoria. And this explains why people usually feel better after laughing.
Improves mental health
Laughter helps a person feel good, but what is important, this feeling lasts for a long time even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps to maintain optimism in difficult life situations. This is more than just a relief from sadness and pain. It helps to find the strength and courage to face life’s difficulties. In the most difficult times, even a forced smile helps to improve mood.
A person is simply not capable of feeling anxious, angry or sad when laughing. Laughter energizes and improves concentration. And not so long ago, researchers discovered another very interesting fact. It turns out that through the prism of laughter, a person can view the problem in a more realistic light. That is why many psychologists advise to laugh at the problem, after which it will not seem so terrible and insoluble. And of course, benevolent humor helps to resolve conflict situations and sets up the interlocutor for more friendly communication.
What is laughter therapy
Over the centuries, doctors and researchers have studied the effect of humor on the body. This is how the practice of treatment with laughter appeared – laughter therapy, or geotology.
In our time, laughter therapy is resorted to in different countries. Most often, this practice is used in children’s hospitals, when clowns or funny acting groups come to small patients. Experts say that after such visits, the well-being of patients really improves. There are also laughter therapy sessions designed for adults.
The theory of the influence of humor on human health in traditional medicine has been considered for quite a long time. One of the first to recognize the importance of laughter was the French surgeon Henri de Mondeville. Back in the 10th century, he promoted postoperative laughter therapy. In the twentieth century, the most important contribution to the study of the effect of humor on the well-being of patients was made by Norman Cousins, a professor of medicine at the University of California who studied the biochemistry of emotions. He offered patients a special treatment program – laughter therapy. According to Cousins’ theory, 2 minutes of laughter promotes restful XNUMX hours of sleep without any pain (this is achieved through the pain-relieving effect of laughter).
In recent decades, the processes that occur in the body during laughter have been studied by many other specialists besides Cousins. They also found evidence that laughter has pain-relieving properties, and people who often laugh often have a higher pain threshold than most sullen ones. Scientists have also found that joyful emotion helps fight depression and boosts immunity. In addition, humor has been found to help normalize blood pressure, glucose and adrenaline levels. Experts have reason to believe that laughter even helps in the prevention and recovery after cancer treatment, and also increases the body’s resistance to respiratory infections. The whole reason is that, as it turned out, during laughter, T-cells and interferon gamma (elements of the immune system) are more actively produced in the body.
Laughter has many protective qualities. This is one of the best ways to deal with stress and develop and improve mental resilience. The therapeutic properties of laughter are highly valued in India. There, since 1995, they have been practicing the so-called yoga of laughter, or hasya yoga. All that is required of the participants in such a lesson is to laugh, sincerely, from the heart. Proponents of such an unusual therapy claim that hasya yoga, in addition to relieving stress and anxiety, makes a person happier and improves the quality of sleep. In addition, laughter yoga is considered beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, according to researchers, humor is a powerful anti-aging drug. Scientific data show that neurofibrillary tangles (accumulation of protein substances in the brain, formed in Alzheimer’s disease) appear less often in the bodies of those who like to laugh heartily. And Norwegian researchers are convinced that merry fellows are more likely to live to a ripe old age. According to the observations of scientists, people with a good sense of humor prevail among centenarians. Scientists also found that the effectiveness of cancer treatment is higher in people with a good sense of humor.
Laughter is a powerful medicine against stress and pain. Nothing can bring the mind and body back into balance faster and easier than a good laugh. Humor helps to focus and quickly forget about your anger. That is why laughter is an invaluable medicine available to everyone.