"Laughter is the best medicine" Since ages we all have been hearing this. Most of us agree, some don't. But what matters more is why? Why should we laugh? What are the benefits we are going to get? And what is the chemistry behind it? Well, keep reading, as I answer all the questions!
To start off, we all know how out of the world it feels when we have a long breathless laugh. It not only feels good, but it is so contagious as well. Starting from a little giggle to a rolling and dancing laugh, laughter has the power to instantly change the mood and the atmosphere! Laughter has to be the best medicine.
And turns out that laughter has a myriad of direct and indirect benefits. And yes, there are very good reasons to convert that small giggle into a loud and long stomach-tightening laughter...
The first noticeable pro of laughter is of course the elevated mood. Laughing or even giggling starts making you feel uplifted and more positive. It turns out that laughter, or even a giggle releases loads of hormones like endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, etc. that makes you feel good.
Fun Fact: As advantageous it might be, rigorous laughing is not recommended to asthma or COPD patients!
Another mesmerizing advantage of laughing is that it can actually reduce stress and anxiety. Well to understand this, let's dive a bit deeper. When we undergo stress, our brain sends our body in a fight or flight response. It is beneficial sometimes like during an exam this response helps us to perform better under pressure. But most of the times, just like while worrying about future, it is the reason for fear and it leads to all the negative impacts of stress on the body. To get rid of this, we need to relax and we need to send our brain into relaxation mode. To do so, our exhalation should be longer than inhalation during breathing. It tricks the brain to thinking that everything is fine. When we laugh, our brain goes into relaxation mode as our breathing pattern proceeds in such a way that it becomes similar to short inhalations and long exhalations. That is why a good laugh is a amazing way to reduce stress and anxiety.
Turns out, people who laugh and enjoy humor have much lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. We all know stress can do a number on your body and mind, but laughter can help counteract those effects. Lowered cortisol has many benefits like keeping your blood sugar levels low and reducing inflammation in the body.
Speaking of breathing, laughing is considered as one of the best breathing exercise. It not only flushes out air in and out continually from your lungs, it also oxygenates the cells of your brain and body, increasing energy levels and promoting better health.
A good laugh works wonders for your circulation and oxygenation. The act of laughing immediately boosts heart rate, respiratory activity, and oxygen consumption. Stimulating your heart and the entire circulatory system, thus it protects you from most heart diseases too!
Studies have shown that laughter naturally increases pain tolerance. Laughter produces hormones called endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killers. It can also help to take your mind off any pain you may be experiencing- yeah, physically or mentally!
Laughter stimulates a body part called as diaphragm. As a result, it boosts your lymphatic system – an important part of your immune system. It increases the rate at which toxins are removed from your body and immune cells are produced. This helps your body to increase its immunity.
Now because diaphragm is been stimulated during a laugh, laughter tones your abs. That's why your stomach hurts after a comedy show! This also burns an insane amount of calories. To be specific 10 to 15 minutes of just laughter a day can burn up to 40 calories!
This one is still in research, but laughter can actually enhance your memory and recalling skills. That is why you tend to remember funny stories and incidents better than sad ones.
These points are enough to prove that you always have very good reasons to laugh. While we have medications available for many minut problems, these medications do have long term side effects. Fortunately when you include laughter in your daily life, it can solve many of these problems. With many benefits that laughing has to offer, let that small giggle turn into a blast of laughter!
Posts before October 2021 have been marked as "Old Posts". Less likely, but they might have out dated or incorrect information, ugly looking bits of code, no labels, etc. Don't get me wrong, many of these posts are top-notch and interesting too.
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
Old Post