Laughter might be the best medicine because it makes us feel good, healthy and sound. Scientists, who have spent years studying laughter, show a good dose of laughter has great benefits for your body. Here are 6 surprising health benefits of laughter:
1. Pain reliever
True laughter releases endorphins. One effect of the release of this hormone is that it increases pain tolerance.
2. Increases one’s chance of getting pregnant
A 2011 study showed women going through in vitro fertilization were 16% more likely to get pregnant when entertained by a clown than those who did not have the clown encounter.
3. Gives a healthy heart
Laughter is healthy for your heart. It helps your heart by increasing the amount of oxygen in your blood and kicking up your heart rate. It also decreases arterial wall stiffness–a link to cardiovascular disease.
4. Boosts immunity
Laughing can help you stay safe from viruses by improving your immune system. Laughing releases more anti-infection antibodies to help protect your body from infection.
5. Reduces stress
Your body releases cortisol when you’re stressed. Because it’s known as the stress hormone, cortisol gets a bad rap, but it plays an important role in the body. It helps manage blood sugar levels, reduces inflammation, manages metabolism, and triggers the fight or flight response in your body at critical times. But too much cortisol and your body feel that stress. Laughter is one of the ways your body can help regulate cortisol. Laughing increases your oxygen intake, which stimulates body circulation and decreases your cortisol levels.
6. Relaxes the body
Stress causes your muscles to tense up. Laughing can help relieve stress because it relaxes your muscles. A good laugh can relieve your muscles of extra stress for up to 45 minutes because it stimulates circulation.