Laugh Your Way to Better Health

By: Aspen J. Wood, USU Extension Intern, Cindy Nelson, USU Extension Associate Professor

You may know that laughter can have positive effects on mental health, but the physical health benefits of laughter might be a bit more surprising. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress, which in turn can make people feel less fatigued and even prevent stress related diseases such as heart disease (Yim, 2016). Laughter has even proven to increase longevity and quality of life in cancer patients (Kim, 2015).

Chronic stress can cause negative physical health effects such as headaches, sleep loss, and in some cases chronic conditions such as heart disease if stress is left untreated. The important thing to remember is that stress can be managed. One treatment that doctors and scientists alike have found to reduce stress is laughter! “Laughter decreases serum levels of cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone, and 3,4-dihydrophenylacetic acid (a major dopamine catabolite), indicating a reversal of the stress response” (Yim, 2016). It is even said that laughter in some cases, when used in therapy sessions correctly, can work better than some stress-reducing medications. 

There is a positive correlation between laughter and cancer patients. Several notable studies show that terminal cancer patients with a sense of humor can add longevity to their life.  Not only does laughing reduce patients' stress, but patients also treated with laughter therapy showed a better quality of life overall. Laughing makes the mind and body physically happier by releasing serotonin, endorphins, and other helpful and healing hormones (Kim, 2015).

Laughter can also improve insomnia, pulmonary function, and decrease pain. Laughter therapy is a non-pharmacological, non-invasive alternative treatment for some mental and physical health challenges. Consider using laughter as a complementary treatment and laugh your way to better health.

References

Yim J. (2016). Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 239(3), 243–249. https://doi.org 10.1620/tjem.239.243

Kim, S. H., Kim, Y. H., & Kim, H. J. (2015). Laughter and Stress Relief in Cancer        Patients: A Pilot Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2015, 864739. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/864739