The Link Between Laughing and Living

Laughter could truly be the best medicine, according to the experts.

Contents

The Science Behind Laughter Manage Chronic Pain Through Laughter Mental Health Benefits Addressing Skepticism and Limitations

Stories linking laughter to longevity have been told for thousands of years. Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher famously known as the “laughing philosopher,” was renowned for approaching life with humor and rationality despite its absurdities or hardships. Democritus is said to have lived an exceptionally long life, with some sources reporting he lived up to 90 years, while others suggest he reached the age of 109.

That ancient tale gains credence as modern scientists examine what laughter does to the body. Research suggests that laughter triggers a series of changes in the body that can have long-term benefits and may also play a role in helping you live longer.

The Science Behind Laughter

Laughter is a physiological and psychological process that involves the brain, body, and emotions working together. Research shows that laughter stimulates the release of endorphins and strengthens connections between people. In addition to that, laughing regularly appears to lower the risk of death and heart disease, making laughter an important factor for better health.

A 2020 study published in the Journal of Epidemiology followed more than 17,000 Japanese adults 40 and above. The findings revealed that those who laughed less than once a month had a 95 percent higher risk of death compared to people who laughed at least once a week. Participants who laughed less than once a week but more than once a month had an elevated risk of heart issues compared to weekly laughers.

“Laughter can help improve circulation by dilating the inner lining of the blood vessels, thereby getting more blood and nutrients to the tissues and organs. It can reduce the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine which, if in excess, are linked to heart disease,” Dr. Trent Orfanos, director of Integrative and Functional Cardiology at Case Integrative Health, told The Epoch Times.

Dilated blood vessels help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow, reducing strain on the heart. This can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.

“Additionally, improved blood flow helps maintain a more flexible and resilient heart rhythm, known as heart rate variability, which is a sign of a healthy heart,” said Orfanos, a functional cardiologist.

Moreover, research indicates that when we laugh, our brain releases opioids in areas linked to pleasure and emotions, such as the thalamus, caudate nucleus, and anterior insula. Opioids are natural “feel-good” chemicals that activate the brain’s reward system, making us feel happy and relaxed. They also help strengthen social connections by encouraging positive interactions and emotional bonding.

Manage Chronic Pain Through Laughter

Humor therapy helps reduce pain in people of all ages, including children, adults, and older people, according to a literature review of six studies analyzing its effectiveness for chronic pain.

Chronic pain, as defined by the studies, refers to an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience linked to real or potential tissue damage. It is characterized by pain lasting longer than three months with moderate to severe intensity.

Cindy Perlin, a licensed clinical social worker, chronic pain survivor, and author of “The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free,” shared her story with The Epoch Times about how laughter helped her manage severe chronic back pain.

She first discovered the power of laughter in 1980 when she read the book “Anatomy of an Illness” by Norman Cousins. In the book, Cousins shares how he healed from a painful joint disease, ankylosing spondylitis, using laughter therapy.

“At the time I read Cousins’ book on how laughter can be a tool for healing and finding relief, I was three years into being disabled by chronic back pain, starting at the age of 25. Doctors had no answers for me. I was watching the Holocaust miniseries and reading novels about World War II to distract myself from the pain. I had no idea that what I was filling my mind with was contributing to my pain,” Perlin told The Epoch Times.

“The pain was so terrible that I would have done almost anything to get rid of it. And certainly, using humor is a much more pleasant option than most treatments for chronic pain. During stressful periods of my life, I have had pain flares, but never as bad as the initial one, because I have tools now that I can use to manage them, including humor.”

Drawing from her clinical experience, Perlin pointed out that clients open to a mind-body approach to healing tend to have better outcomes, and those who incorporate humor enjoy a higher quality of life. On the other hand, clients who remain in a negative and fearful state of mind often show little improvement.

“I remember one client who came to me who had cancer. She told me she liked to watch scary movies for entertainment. I told her that staying in a fearful state while she was watching those movies was detrimental to her immune system, but she insisted that she liked them and didn’t want to stop. She died of cancer not that long after. I don’t know how much of a difference it would have made, but it could have extended her life and reduced her pain to spend more time in laughter rather than fear,” Perlin said.

Perlin’s observations could be correlated with a 2019 study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies that tested whether watching something funny could help with pain management. The results showed that watching the comedy improved participants’ mood and maintained their pain tolerance while watching a boring documentary worsened their mood and reduced their ability to cope with pain. The study concluded that just 30 minutes of laughter can help people better manage pain.

“Overall blood flow increases by nearly 20% after watching a comedy compared to watching a stressful movie. In the comedy scenario, blood pressure decreases, endorphins (hormones that reduce pain, improve mood, and increase feelings of well-being) rise, and nitric oxide, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels, is released. These effects can contribute to better pain management,” said Orfanos.

Mental Health Benefits

As outlined by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, prolonged stress can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and various other illnesses. Since laughter has been shown to reduce stress by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, it may help decrease the risk of these health issues.

“Laughter is especially beneficial during difficult moments in life when the body becomes too tense, starts to ache, or, worse, develops diseases,” Gary Tucker, a licensed psychotherapist and chief clinical officer at D’Amore Mental Health, told The Epoch Times in an email.

“Once we feel less anxious and stay present in the moment, our mental and physical well-being improves, our immune system strengthens, and our life expectancy increases. That’s why many say laughter can act as true medicine and heal our minds and bodies,” said Tucker.

Laughter yoga and music therapy helped reduce depression and anxiety in participants of a 2024 comparative study of older adults. The effects lasted about a month, and during that time, the laughter yoga participants experienced the most significant reduction in stress.

Laughter yoga combines laughter exercises with breathing techniques inspired by traditional yoga. It typically involves guided sessions where participants engage in playful activities, clapping, chanting, and laughter exercises, regardless of whether the laughter starts naturally.

Another study on laughter therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that nursing students who participated in the therapy had less anxiety and felt happier and more satisfied with life than those who didn’t.

The study lasted five weeks and included 10 online laughter therapy sessions held twice a week. Participants in the intervention group joined these sessions through an online platform. Researchers collected data remotely using reliable online tools to measure anxiety, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being among the participants.

Laughter can also help with trauma, said Perlin, who has used laughter as a therapeutic tool for her clients, including one who has suffered childhood trauma.

“Something triggered her, and she curled up into a ball in a fetal position. I work from home, and my cat was lying on the floor next to her, belly up with her legs spread wide. At one point, my client opened her eyes slightly, saw the cat doing the exact opposite of what she was doing, and started laughing. It brought her out of her traumatized state,” Perlin said.

Addressing Skepticism and Limitations

There are some situations and conditions where laughter might not be advisable or could cause harm. For example, in a study on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers found that while having a good sense of humor was linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety, as well as better quality of life, laughter caused by watching a funny video temporarily worsened lung function and led to breathing difficulties. This indicates that laughing hard could negatively affect lung function in people with COPD.

Laughter should also be avoided in certain medical conditions, such as after surgeries or injuries that affect the chest or abdomen. For people with heart conditions like unstable angina or recent heart attacks, excessive laughter might strain the heart. Additionally, people with certain neurological conditions like seizures should be cautious, as, though rare, laughter could trigger symptoms or discomfort.

“I would not over-rely on laughter alone for heart health and longevity, although I feel it is complementary to diet and exercise, which are more powerful. Sometimes, laughter might be stress-induced, which may not have the benefits of joyful laughter. Overall, I think the benefits of joyful laughter far outweigh the risks,” said Orfanos.

So, laugh out loud, giggle, watch a comedy, or engage in any activity that brings you joy and makes you smile. The change can be “heartwarming.”

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