It is an old saying. Laughter is the best medicine. True, it is hard to feel negative while laughing. It perks up the spirits that hang on for a while afterwards. But laughter might also have physical benefits as well.

How Laughter Makes You Healthy

Laughter boosts the level of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers, and reduces the level of epinephrine, which is the hormone that causes stress. Laughing reduces the amount of stress we feel and kills physical, mental, and emotional pain. Just for that fact laughter makes for great medicine.

But, laughter is also good for the body’s immune system. Laughing increases the number of T-cells and natural killer cells that attack viruses, cancer cells, and other bad cells we do not want infecting our bodies. Laughter also increases a blood chemical known as gamma interferon, which stimulates the immune system. Laughing also increases immunoglobin A, an antibody that fights respiratory tract infections – an exact opposite of what stress and depression does with immunoglobin A.

Working the Heart

Not only does laughter improve the hormones and cells that keep us healthy, it also provides a cardio workout. Some doctors claim that twenty seconds of good laughter equals a three minute workout on the rowing machine. Laughing is an exercise for the cardiovascular system. It raises and lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, improves coordination of brain power, reduces stress, increases blood oxygen, and strengthens internal muscles.

Finding Time Each Day to Laugh

It is so easy to take life too seriously. We smile but we do not laugh deeply enough. Adults laugh about fifteen times per day, but that is nothing compared to children, who will laugh on average four hundred times per day.

Laughing is one of the simplest and easiest ways to improve general health. Right now Americans are wrapped up in television shows like “Law and Order” and “CSI,” serious shows that involve murder and other intense subjects. Perhaps television viewers should take a break from the heavy drama and find a comedy on a cable network. Or, instead of renting a slasher movie, rent something silly.

With all the stress in life, it only makes sense to take some time to find something to laugh at. Laughter may be the best thing for overall health.