A Daily Dose of Laughter Can Ease Pain, Improve Sleep, and Even Keep Colds Away—Here’s How!
From lowering blood pressure to keeping colds away, laughter is a powerful health tool you’ll love
Who knew? Laughing out loud is a proven health booster. Here, all the ways being in stitches tunes up your body and mind.
Sitcoms dial down pain
Dealing with arthritis pain, a backache or other ouches? Turn on a funny TV show like Abbott Elementary. Laughter eases discomfort so effectively, researchers from Turkey found it transformed moderate pain into mild pain for knee surgery patients within 20 minutes. They say that a hearty guffaw triggers the release of painkilling serotonin and endorphins.
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Ward off colds with funny videos or put your feet up
To lower your risk of a stuffy nose or sore throat, make it a habit to visit YouTube.com and search for stand-up routines from your favorite comedians. Or simply watch free episodes of America’s Funniest Home Videos at YouTube.com/@afv. Johns Hopkins University research found people who appreciate sidesplitting jokes or humorous situations are less likely to develop colds or other respiratory infections. Why? A great sense of humor lowers stress, which boosts your immune system’s production of a virus-fighting antibody, helping you stay healthy.
Simply relaxing and unwinding spurs a significant boost in antibody levels within just 20 minutes, according to research out of Albright College. Experts say that enjoying soothing calm lets your immune system kick into high gear, keeping viruses at bay.
Sleep better by clapping or chat with a pal
Singing silly songs (like “Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley and “Witch Doctor” by David Seville) while clapping along for an hour a week leads to deeper Zzzs every night. South Korean scientists found that immersing yourself in playful activities that get you giggling boosts joy, which is a key factor for snagging solid sleep. Enjoying an upbeat mood when turning in keeps you from ruminating, allowing you to drift off.
A new review from the University of Virginia shows that regularly catching up with friends or family improves your sleep quality. Experts say connecting with loved ones eases anxiety, which helps you relax at night.
Sharpen focus with Sunday comics or briefly pause
Before starting a task that requires concentration (like knitting a sweater or solving a crossword puzzle), check out comic strips known for their rib-tickling storylines, like “Garfield” and “Calvin and Hobbes” at GoComics.com. New research from Japan reveals that you’ll have significantly better mental focus within just 4 minutes. Laughing increases blood flow to the brain’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—the area that helps you zero in on details—making it easier to pay close attention.
Another new study out of Japan shows that taking a short 20-second mental rest every so often in the middle of a task, like by gazing out a window, keeps you alert and focused by reducing brain fatigue.
Moisten dry eyes by saying ‘ha ha ha’ or nibble on sour candy
Irritated eyes? Pretend to chuckle. New research in The BMJ found repeating “Hee hee hee, ha ha ha, cheese cheese cheese, cheek cheek cheek and ha ha ha” for 5 minutes re-wets dry eyes as effectively as some artificial tears. Mimicking laughter stimulates your diaphragm and squeezes tiny muscles around your eyes. This prompts the flow of lipids from meibomian glands, which lubricate eyes.
Indian research shows that the combination of sweet and sour flavors stimulates glands that prompt both your mouth and eyes to water in seconds.
Lower blood pressure by reminiscing or sip tea
Recalling a memory that cracks you up keeps your BP in check. Japanese scientists say people who laugh at least once a day have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure. Frequent LOLs curb production of the stress hormone cortisol, which takes the squeeze off blood vessels and improves circulation.
Folks who drink at least one cup of black tea (caffeinated or decaf) with milk a day have a BP up to 7 points lower than those who skip it, shows a recent study in BMC Health.
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