Laughter Is The Best Medicine

by Dec 22, 2022

Is laughter really the best medicine?

Lets find out! This months biohack is the benefit laughter may have on your physical and mental health. When you laugh endorphins are released throughout your body, stimulating muscles, nerves, organs and tissues.  Laughing induces immediate physical changes, all of which result in heightened feelings of well-being.  Studies show these endorphins give relief to chronic pain, help to relieve stress and promote functioning of the immune system. So if the holiday stress is starting to pile up, come in for an adjustment, get in some exercise, take your vitamin D and throw on your favorite comedy!

Laughter literally helps heal your body!

 

When you laugh, you increase your intake of oxygen-rich air. This stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and prompts the release of endorphins in your brain. Similar to breathing exercises . Laughing activates and then relieves your body’s stress response, and increases and then lowers your heart rate and blood pressure—all adding up to a calmer feeling. In addition, a good laugh aids muscle relaxation and can stimulate circulation, both of which can help relieve stress.

 

The positive effects are not just short term either. Long-term regular bouts of laughter can improve your immune system when you laugh it decreases the stress hormone cortisol. Stressful situations result in spikes of cortisol, which then interferes with the area of the brain that regulates emotions. When that happens, the immune system deteriorates and becomes washed in a sea of inflammation, which is a factor in heart disease, cancer, and dementia. Positive thoughts and funny experiences, on the other hand, result in the release of neuropeptides, which help fight stress and the effects of cortisol.

Laughing for 15 minutes has the the similar health benefits as getting two extra hours of sleep! No you should not stay up all night watching comedies, but if you have had a bad nights sleep getting a couple of laughs in the next day will help your body recover a bit. Laughing helps us form important social bonds and is important to relationships helping to reduce anxiety and depression.

All of this combined makes laughter and a good sense of humor associated with living longer. Being funny or enjoying comedy is usually an attractive trait, and research indicates that social connectedness is another factor that contributes to longevity.

This link between laughing and longevity is also supported by some evidence. One study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, looked at the association between humor and survival in patients with all-cause mortality, and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases , infections, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Researchers studied a cohort of approximately 54,000 individuals over a 15-year period. They found that having a good sense of humor correlated to higher survival rates from cardiovascular disease in women and with infection-related deaths in individuals of any gender. Researchers concluded this was due to laughter’s effect as “a health-protecting cognitive coping resource.” They measured this factor by asking participants to estimate their ability to find a funny element in any given situation; those with higher scores on this question tended to live longer.

While more research must be done, enough evidence indicates that laughter may be a great tool to help prevent diseases, reduce costs, and ensure a healthier population. It is also important to acknowledge there is not much to lose in laughing. With no downsides, side-effects, or risks, perhaps laughter IS the best medicine!

Benefits of Laughter

  • Reduces Heart Disease
  • Natural Pain Killer
  • Improves breathing
  • Helps you loose weight
  • Improves your sleep
  • Decreases stress
  • Makes you look younger
  • Boosts mood and confidence
  • Increases Immunity

 

Simply put laugher is the best medicine!

Archives

Categories

Dr. Katherine

Dr. Katherine Iacuone

Dr. Katherine Iacuone practices chiropractic and co owns Desert Valley Chiropractic in the beautiful North Phoenix neighborhood of Moon Valley with her husband Dr. David Iacuone. Desert Valley is an award-winning practice with multiyear “Best of The Valley”  for best chiropractic clinic awards. Dr. Katherine Iacuone has won the “Three Best”  best chiropractor award multiple times and Dr. David Iacuone is listed as a Who’s Who “Top Doctor” of chiropractic. The practice is accepting new patients.

To make an appointment call us at 602-439-1515 or reach out through the contact submission on our website at Desert Valley Chiropractic.

Best of the Valley 2022
Best of the Valley 2021
Best of the Valley 2020

Follow Us on Our Socials!

Disclaimer

Information is shared for educational purposes only.  The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease.

You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.