6 Health Benefits of Laughter
Have you ever heard that laughter is the best medicine? Turns out, that might be some truth to that! The health benefits of laughter are, well, no laughing matter! It’s no coincidence that we feel better after watching a comedy movie or spending time with a hilarious friend. But how exactly does laughter impact our health? What benefits does it offer? Here are just a handful of reasons why laughter is, indeed, the best medicine!
1. Relaxes your body.
Have you ever noticed that when stress makes your body feel tight, almost like a string about to snap? That feeling isn’t comfortable! Fortunately, laughter can help your body unwind and relax your muscles for up to 45 minutes! So, the next time you get anxious or stressed, watch a funny movie or call a hilarious friend. Then laugh away the tension!
2. Lowers your blood pressure.
Stress does more than create tension. It also raises blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, the hormones that the body makes when under stress can damage your arteries. This, in turn, can lead to heart disease. And while you should always consult a medical professional if you have high blood pressure, there’s another home remedy you can do: laugh! Laughter releases endorphins, also known as “nature’s painkillers”, lowering your blood pressure and stress levels. Talk about two birds with one stone!
3. Helps with weight loss.
Now, I’m not saying you can laugh away a bad diet or sedentary lifestyle, so don’t get too excited! As you probably know, chronic stress can cause weight gain. According to a 2022 review, stress can lead to weight gain by interfering with self-regulation, increasing hunger hormones, disrupting sleep, and depleting energy levels. As you read above, laughter releases endorphins and lowers stress! Additionally, it’s a mini workout! Just 15 minutes of laughter can help you burn between 10 and 40 calories a day. That doesn’t sound like much, but that can translate to about 4 pounds a year in the long run!
4. Boosts your immune system.
If you get sick a lot and wonder why, it might be due to chronic stress. It could also be due to your mindset. And while there are a lot of things you can do to boost your immune system, you can also laugh more! According to St. John’s Health, laughter produces anti-infection antibodies and T-cells in the blood, both of which protect us from infections.
5. Decreases your risk of heart attacks.
Did you know that laughing can boost your overall cardiac health? When you laugh, your heart rate increases, and you breathe more. What does this mean? That more oxygenated blood is circulated through your blood, improving overall vascular health and reducing your risk of heart attacks!
6. Strengthens social bonds.
When you have a good laugh with a friend or family member, do you feel like you’re on cloud nine? According to Dr. Grace Tworek, a clinical health psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic: “Humor and laughter naturally create bonds between us. Say you’re meeting someone new. If you can throw in a joke and make them laugh, it’s like, ‘OK, we get each other,’ and you start to feel like you can be more your authentic self with them.” Staying socially connected is important, especially as we age. So, if you want to feel closer to your friends and loved ones, have a good laugh with them!
How to Laugh More
Now that you’ve learned about the health benefits of laughter, you might be wondering how you can laugh more. While you can always wait for something to tickle your funny bone, you should ideally seek out the things that amuse you. Laughter, like any form of exercise, offers the most benefits the more you do it! So, if you’re looking for a few ways to get more laughs into your day, we’ve got you covered!
1. Find out what makes you laugh.
It might sound silly and obvious, but in order you laugh, you need to determine what you find funny! We all have different tastes in movies, books, and even pizza, and the same applies to humor! Think of what really makes you laugh. Is it silly slapstick comedy? Do you like physical gags? Or do you prefer sarcasm and biting wit? Pin down your sense of humor, and seek out the shows, movies, or even loved ones that’ll tickle your funny bone!
2. Don’t take things too seriously!
Let’s face it. Life is heavy. We’re surrounded by constant reminders of how bad things really are, and how much worse they can get. When you’re doomscrolling social media and come across news article after news article, you probably want to cry instead of laugh. If you want to get into a better frame of mind, stop seeking out negative content. Learn to let go, relax, and take life a little less seriously. Sure, we all experience things that feel like they break our funny bones. But the bad times are when laughter is most important. So, the next time you’re feeling glum and crushed beneath the weight of the world, find a way to put a positive spin on the situation.
3. Spend time with funny people.
Not all of us are destined for the late-night circuit, and that’s okay! You don’t have to be funny or have a good sense of humor to laugh. You can just hang out with the comedians in your life! If you have a funny friend or loved one, spend an afternoon with them. Or invite them over to your house. These days, you can even connect over a video chat or FaceTime call! Of course, you can always put on your favorite internet comedian or funny podcaster to reap the benefits of laughter, too!
4. Play with your grandchild or pet.
Kids and animals are often funny because they don’t try to be. Plus, they make us happy, which puts us in the right frame of mind to laugh! If you want more laughter in your life, spend some time with them. An afternoon with a beloved two-legged (or four-legged!) family member might be just the thing to lift your spirits!
5. Don’t hold back your laughter!
This tip comes with a caveat: There’s always a time and place to laugh. Laughter is magical, but it’s not always appropriate for every setting. With that said, there are other times when it’s perfectly acceptable to laugh. And yet, we suppress our laughter. Maybe we’re afraid of drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves or worried about what others might think of us if we just let loose. Life is too short to go around swallowing your laughs! So, when appropriate, laugh. Laugh hard. Laugh as much as you want. Just laugh and enjoy life!
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Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” So, if you want to be the healthiest, happiest version of you, make sure you schedule time to laugh! Spend time with those who make you smile and remember how good it is to be alive. Cut out negative content and watch things that put a smile on your face. Today and every day, choose joy! To put it simply, just laugh! It’ll do both your body and soul a world of good.
For more great articles like this one, visit our Health & Wellness Blog!
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Originally published April 30, 2025
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