The Science Behind Laughter, The Powerful Benefits Of A Good Chuckle, And How To Add A Little Humor To Your Life

Do you have any strategies or practices in place to routinely relax and manage stress levels?

Are you doing anything regularly to keep your heart healthy, thereby reducing your risk of heart attack or stroke? 

If you struggle with depression, is there anything you’re doing on a regular basis to mitigate these symptoms?

And, keeping in line with mental health, what are you doing to make sure you’re giving your mind a break from time to time? 

Then, what about pain levels? As we age, pain seems to be more and more of a reality, so what are you doing to decrease pain? 

Looking over the questions listed above, I’m sure you can easily think of a number of things you can do to promote health regarding each area or item. 

Perhaps some solutions involve medications, and maybe others involve supplements, oils, and other therapies. 

Maybe you immediately thought of dietary solutions to the above problems. Or, perhaps exercise is your primary choice for mitigating any of the above areas of concern.

But, what if I told you that each of the common health concerns listed above could actually be positively affected by…laughter! 

And no, that’s not a joke. 

Laughter has benefits that span nearly every area of health and wellness, including physical, mental, emotional, and even social rewards that one can reap when laughing. 

So, how does laughter bring about health benefits? Does a single giggle count, or do you only reap these rewards from an evening of belly laughs? 

What kind of laughter improves health? Are we talking a mere chuckle or do you need to engage in raucous, side-splitting bursts of hysterics? 

And, what actually causes us to laugh in the first place, or better yet, what goes on inside your body when you laugh? 

Whew…that’s a lot of questions! Thankfully we’re here to answer these inquiries and more as we look at the science behind laughter and how it can powerfully improve your health.

The Science Of Laughter

Freud has said that we laugh for the purpose of release. In other words, laughter allows us to release pent up nervousness, or “nervous energy.” 

Prior to this, Plato and other philosophers believed laughter stemmed from introspection - laughing at earlier versions of oneself - and egotism - laughing at others due to feelings of superiority. 

And, a third theory behind the reason for laughter involves our propensity to chuckle at those things which seem out of place. For instance, laughing at unexpected, even unimaginable, solutions or chuckling at statements with a double meaning. 

In some ways, I think you can find each of these to be at the root of laughter, depending on the person and circumstance. 

In other ways, each of these theories, even the sum of these theories, is inadequate. 

Why? Because the root of laughter is often subjective - you know, what I find to be funny, may not be funny to you, and so on. 

Of course, we all seem to innately understand this. But, what we don’t routinely understand is why people laugh and what is going on within our bodies and minds during such outbursts. 

So, to understand the science of laughter, let’s tackle those questions.

Why do people laugh?

Did you know humans aren’t the only species that laugh? 

Even animals, such as apes, dogs, foxes, seals, and more, engage in laughter. 

But, humans actually do this from a very young age. 

As early as 3 months, even prior to uttering their first words, infants begin to laugh. 

But why? 

Broadly speaking, we laugh in response to various stimuli. 

The same is mostly true regarding crying. 

And, each of these types of responses are simply physiological. 

In other words, like crying, laughter is an involuntary function, one that is primarily triggered by your nervous system in response to a specific kind of stimuli. 

When a person encounters something they find to be humorous, they involuntarily laugh. 

This reaction can range from the involvement of a few muscles in your face and upper body to a total body engagement. 

In infants, laughter aids in muscle development, particularly as it engages the eyes, head, and shoulders. During this stage it also serves to improve upper body strength. 

Of course, like adults, infants can also experience improved emotions, etc. when laughing. 

And, like infants, adults can also experience upper body…even whole body…muscle engagement and strengthening. 

But, as you may have guessed, there is far more going on under the surface when we laugh.

What happens in your body and mind when you laugh?

Like exercise, laughter causes your muscles to expand and contract. Generally, this involves your facial, chest, abdominal, and skeletal muscles. 

When you laugh, your pulse and heart rate also become elevated. 

Actually, when you begin to laugh, this signals a fight or flight response in your body as well. 

Now, normally this wouldn’t be a good thing, but within 20 minutes of laughter your heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension all drop below baseline levels promoting relaxation and calmness that can be experienced for up to 45 minutes after your “last laugh.” 

Then, in your brain there are many regions which engage even as you simply process a laughter-promoting joke. 

Your brain’s left hemisphere, frontal lobe, and occipital lobe, for instance, are all engaged when laughing. 

Laughter also causes an increase in catecholamine levels which can affect mental functions such as responsiveness, memory, and focus. 

And, laughter is also thought to prompt the release of endorphins as well as decrease the secretion of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. 

But, how do these bodily responses translate to better health? 

The Healing Powers of Laughter

We briefly covered what happens inside your body when you laugh but now let’s look at the ways some of those responses actually bring benefits to your overall health and wellness.

1- Physical

When you laugh, your immune system gets a boost as this increases the production of antibody-producing cells while also enhancing the effectiveness of your T-cells. 

Studies also show an association between laughter and decreased prevalence of heart disease. 

This is likely due to laughter’s ability to carry an increased amount of oxygen-rich air to your heart and lungs as well as its ability to decrease heart rate and blood pressure. 

As laughter stimulates circulation and promotes muscle relaxation, stress levels also improve.

Some studies have shown that laughter can reduce pain through its ability to prompt the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, and each of which act as natural painkillers. Even the relaxation and contraction of muscles during laughter serves to alleviate pain. 

The act of laughing works to strengthen the muscles in your core, even extending to engage your chest muscles and diaphragm. 

“Regular laughing is also connected with reduced all-cause mortality. This suggests laughter can enhance longevity.”

2- Mental

Just as laughter improves heart health by bringing in oxygen-rich air, your brain gets a boost here as well. 

This benefit aids in cognitive functioning, but it also serves to reduce stress levels as your brain can think more clearly about a situation. 

Laughter also increases energy levels, and this helps to improve focus. 

These benefits are powerful on their own, but they also serve as an added stress-relieving benefit. 

Then, as laughter prompts the release of those feel-good hormones we mentioned above, it can improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression, and lighten your mental load.

3- Emotional

Laughter serves as a means to stop negative emotions in their tracks. 

In other words, “you can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad, when you’re laughing.” 

And, while we mentioned this above, sometimes mental and emotional benefits can overlap, so it’s worth repeating that laughter can serve to increase feelings of happiness and improve your overall mood. 

Then unfortunately, sometimes life gets heavy. It’s unavoidable, really. But, laughter can serve you well in the midst of such trials as it can help you cope with life’s stressors.  

And overall, laughter inherently brings joy and happiness to life.

4- Social

Did you know you are 30 times more likely to laugh in a group setting? 

Did you know most people cite “a good sense of humor” when looking for a potential partner or friend? 

By nature, humans are social creatures, and we benefit from being with others, from being a part of a community. 

But, when we engage in laughter when connecting with others, that connection is strengthened. 

This is due to the fact that humor and laughter serve to create bonds. 

Don’t believe me? Invite a new friend for coffee and watch your bond increase as you find things to chuckle about as you chat over some tasty mochas. 

Or, host a brunch with your neighbors and see how you connect when laughter erupts (sharing stories about the HOA, your kids, the commonalities between spousal roles, etc.). 

A word of warning though, if you’re a laugh-er like me, go easy on the hot coffee. It’s not fun when that comes out of your nose. LOL!

Okay, in all seriousness, we all know coffee provides a great means for connection, but you can amplify this connection and sense of community when you make sure to share a few laughs as well. 

Typically, we think of coffeehouses as quiet, library-esque, meeting places, but I’ve seen a growing trend where folks truly enjoy engaging conversation - complete with giggles, chuckles, and all out belly-laughter - over a tasty cup of joe…and I’m here for it!

5 Ways To Infuse More Laughter Into Your Life

So, now we’ve explored the science of laughter, and we’ve detailed how laughter can bring powerfully healthy benefits to your body and life, but before we close out our discussion, let’s look at a few practical ways to infuse a little more laughter into our lives.

1- Practice

Did you know you can increase laughter in your life simply by practicing? 

Yes, practice laughing. 

Now, don’t laugh…or, do laugh, but not now…well, if you want to laugh now you can…but…

Okay, all we’re saying is that this suggestion isn’t a joke. 

The notion of practicing laughing may seem a bit odd, but it’s proven to help! 

Here, you simply focus on shifting your perspective to gain appreciation for funny things, situations, or events. 

Obviously, practicing laughter is something you would primarily do when you’re alone, but there are even ways to do this in a group setting. 

For instance, some practice laughing yoga (which you could do in a group or alone) where you use the muscles involved in breathing to simulate laughter, essentially forcing laughter to gain the same positive physical responses associated with natural laughter.

2- Take It In

From books, articles, movies, songs, shows, and more, there are plenty of opportunities for laughter in this life. 

Really, if you’re aiming to add a little humor to your days, all you may need is a short span of time and a little provided material. 

My grandparents used to watch Hee Haw, my dad enjoyed Red Skelton, my generation preferred Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, and my kids routinely crack up at reels on social media. What about you? 

The bottom line, whether it’s humorous home videos, funny song lyrics, hysterical sitcoms, or one-liners in your favorite book series, adding laughter to your life can be simple when you purposefully take in a few of these humorous entertainment opportunities.

3- Focus On The Funny

If you find yourself struggling to find humor in things, especially in a stressful environment, bring a little humor with you. 

If you have to, look up a funny site or joke online during your break, as this can help you crack a smile, engage in a releasing chuckle, and lift your spirits prior to tackling the rest of a stressful assignment. 

You can even go old school here by clipping a few printed funnies, finding a humorous greeting card, or looking for other reminders of funny happenings. Then, post them within your workspace, on your desk, etc. allowing you to have an ongoing source of laughter.

4- Laughter Is Better With Friends

We detailed the social benefits of laughter above, but this benefit is essentially two-fold. 

Your connection to others is strengthened when you can laugh together. But, you also tend to laugh more when you’re with friends. 

Why? 

Because laughter is truly contagious. So, when you’re meeting for coffee or chatting with friends, it’s proven that you’ll laugh more than when you’re alone. 

Sure, there’ll be plenty of times when you meet with friends for more serious discussions, but don’t discount getting together simply to laugh and enjoy one another’s company.

5- See The Funny, Be The Funny

Laughter can seem difficult at times, and often this is due to the seriousness of life. 

But, while there certainly are times when laughter is inappropriate, overall, could it be that we take life too seriously? 

Mess ups happen, so it would benefit us all to learn to laugh through it. 

Too often we make mountains out of mole hills, cry over spilled milk, and so on. 

Instead, when these unavoidable mishaps in life take place, wouldn’t it be better to simply learn to laugh at ourselves? 

We’ve all got enough heavy stuff going on in life, why not laugh at the light stuff, right? 

In other words, look for the funny things in life. 

And, let’s share ‘the funny’ as well. 

Maybe this means sending a meme to a friend, maybe this involves telling a joke, or perhaps this simply consists of sharing the funny thing(s) your children did at dinner last night. 

The point is - spread the laughter and engage in a little extra chuckling yourself by sharing humorous points with others. 

So, keeping that in mind, I thought I’d close out with one of my favorite jokes. 

I should warn you though, I find cheesiness ridiculously hilarious! Not gonna lie, I’m already snickering and grinning ear to ear just thinking about this one. 

Soooo…

A frog walks into a bank. He approaches a teller at her window and says, “Ma’am, I need to take out a loan.” 

The teller, confused by the talking frog, replies that she cannot give him a loan. 

“But, Miss, you don’t understand, I’m Mick Jagger’s son. You just have to give me a loan.” 

By now, the teller was simply not buying it, so she again refused his request. 

Reading the teller’s name tag and reaching into his pocket, the frog pulled out a small figurine. 

“Ms. Patty Whack, what if I gave you this figurine as collateral? Then would you give me a loan?”

At this point, the teller explains to the frog that she’ll need to speak to her manager. 

Miss Whack then explains to her boss, “I’m not sure what to do here, there’s a frog in the lobby asking for a loan. He says his dad is Mick Jagger. He even gave me this figurine. I mean, what is this?”

The bank manager looks directly at the teller and replies - “It’s a knick knack, Patty Whack, give the frog a loan. His old man’s a Rolling Stone!”

Hahahaha! I love that one! 

Seriously though friends, I hope you have and find multiple reasons to laugh each and every day, benefiting from and sharing with others the powerful, healthy rewards of laughter!

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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

References:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-so-funny-the-science-of-why-we-laugh/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-laugh/

https://www.bluezones.com/2020/12/scientific-proof-that-laughter-really-can-be-the-best-medicine/

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/animals-laugh-too

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267434

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-stress-management-and-health-benefits-of-laughter-3145084

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-laughing-good-for-you

https://eastonad.ucla.edu/sites/g/files/oketem336/files/media/documents/Laughter_is_the_Best_Medicine-2021-Helpguide-org.pdf

https://www.findapsychologist.org/the-physiological-effects-of-laughter-by-lindsay-wilson-barlow/#:

https://www.math.ttu.edu/~pearce/jokes1/joke-168.html