The Health Benefits of Laughter

Written By:  Samira Esha and Rhea Mittal 

It is a common saying that “laughter is the best medicine,” but recent studies have proven this to be true. Although laughter may not seem like a significant action, the publication of the book “As Anatomy of an Illness,” by Norman Cousins in 1979, made scientists question whether there were any benefits. Cousins suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis in the spinal joints, and he claimed to feel a soothing feeling from the pain when he laughed. Since then, research has shown that laughter has both short-term and long-term benefits for people's physical and mental well-being. Laughter is a great thing to incorporate, not only because of its health benefits but also because it is free and has no side effects. 

 Laughter has many different short-term benefits, both physically and mentally. High levels of stress can speed up someone’s aging process or cause inflammation. Laughter can help control stress by lowering the stress hormone, cortisol, as much as 37 percent during one session. Laughter can also increase and decrease heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a relaxed feeling after someone experiences stress. Some physical and short-term benefits of laughter include stimulating vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and muscles, which can cause better blood circulation and ease muscle tension. 

 There are also many long-term benefits from increased laughter. As the body ages, the immune system becomes less effective at fighting off viruses and infections. Laughter can help strengthen the immune system by increasing the production of immune cells and antibodies in the bloodstream. Additionally, if someone is experiencing pain, laughter can help produce endorphins, which are a feel-good chemical and the body’s natural painkiller. Endorphins will not directly reduce the pain, but can help improve the body’s perception of pain. In addition to endorphins, laughter releases dopamine and oxytocin, and all three of these chemicals can help improve someone’s long-term mental health problems. Studies have found that laughter to be able to reduce both depression and anxiety levels. 

Laughter has been found to have benefits for people’s overall heart health. As mentioned earlier, laughter stimulates the heart, which reduces the likelihood of heart disease. In fact, research has shown that those who laugh regularly have less of a chance of developing heart disease or having a stroke. Laughter can also help those who already suffer from heart disease. In 2023, a study conducted by Professor Marco Saffi and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress compared people with coronary heart disease. One group watched comedy shows and the other watched serious documentaries. Those watching the comedy show were found to have more improvements to their heart and circulatory systems than the other group. 

 People tend to laugh less as they age. Children laugh an average of 400 times per day, while adults average about 15 laughs. However, it is important to incorporate laughter frequently because of the benefits that it comes with at no cost. Some potential ways to incorporate laughter into the day is by finding humor in everyday life, watching or reading comedic forms of entertainment, or even laughter yoga. This form of yoga includes breathing and movement exercises that specifically induce laughter. Whether it is through a joke shared with friends or a funny line from a sitcom, laughter is a fun way to improve the body’s overall health. 

References: 

“How Joy Affects Health: Is Laughter the Best Medicine?” Heart Matters, Wellbeing section, British Heart Foundation, 1 Dec. 2023, www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/how-joy-affects-health. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

“Laugh It Up! 5 Benefits of Laughter for Older Adults.” UCLA Health News & Insights, 21 Feb. 2025, UCLA Health, www.uclahealth.org/news/article/laugh-it-up-5-benefits-laughter-older-adults. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

Frates, Elizabeth P., Karolina Brook, and Dexter Louie. “The Laughter  American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, vol. 10, no. 4, 23 June 2016, pp. 262–267. PubMed Central, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125057. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

“Stress Relief from Laughter? It’s No Joke.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.