The health benefits of laughter | Hunter Pain Specialists

I’m sure you’ve heard, “laughter is the best medicine” at least a handful of times throughout the course of your life. Turns out this notion couldn’t be more true, laughter is overflowing with an abundance of health benefits that can boost your well-being and enhance overall happiness. Laughter has been proven to decrease stress, improve mental and physical health, help with pain and increase immunity. (Elizabeth Scott, PhD, 2006)

The best part about laughter is it's free and accessible for all, however, statistics show that adults don’t laugh nearly as much as children. On average adults laugh roughly 15 times a day, while children manage to laugh over 400 times every single day. (Elizabeth Scott, PhD, 2006) It seems like we could all learn a thing or two from our little ones and do well to make room for a little more laughter in our lives, especially given how beneficial it can be for relieving stress.

Given the nature of how fast our world moves and the amount of pressures we each face day to day in our fast-paced lives, finding ways to destress and decompress is essential for maintaining our well-being. Laughter can trigger a range of physiological changes, that can boost our mood, kick stress to the curb and support our brain functioning.

Laughter can provide a welcomed distraction and offer a physical and emotional release when we’re holding on to negative feelings and tension in our bodies. On a hormonal level when we laugh our endorphins and dopamine levels rise, leaving us feeling happier and healthier. (Camp Quality, 2022) Not to mention the physical benefits of a belly laugh, such as causing your muscles to relax and exercising the diaphragm, abs and heart all at once.

The social benefits of laughter can be life-changing, with the power to bridge a gap between individuals. The need for human connection and positive interactions play an important role in managing our physical and mental health.

We have a few ways you could begin intentionally incorporating more laughter into your day.

1. Smile more! This may sound obvious, but this can have a huge effect on your overall mood. Smiling at others too will only further encourage a positive attitude.
2. If you're switching on the TV, opt for a comedy or funny tv show.
3. Spend time with the people in your life who are light-hearted, joyful and funny. The people you surround yourself with make all the difference.

References

Elizabeth Scott, PhD. (2006, January 30). How Laughter can relieve stress and help your immune system. Verywell Mind.

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

Camp Quality. (2022, September 30). The benefits of laughing.

https://www.campquality.org.au/resources/the-benefits-of-laughing/