The presence of humor in our life not only helps against anxiety and depression. Research has shown that laughing can often lengthen people's lives. The following are four compelling health-related reasons why you tend to laugh often.
Laughter prevents disease. When we laugh, we breathe with the diaphragm, which increases the flow that passes through the lymph nodes. This helps eliminate toxins and protects us from disease by increasing the number of lymphocytes in the blood.
A study from the 80s showed that levels of a hormone that stimulates the immune system increased when participants watched humorous videos.
Laughter reduces stress. The levels of three hormones associated with stress (cortisol, epinephrine and DOPAC) are reduced when we laugh. This is due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the entire body and releases enfdorphins that counteract stress.
Laughter protects the heart. One study found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a number of situations compared to healthy people of the same age. The reason would be that mental stress deteriorates the endothelium, the protective barrier that lines the blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the coronary arteries, and ultimately to a heart attack.
Laughing also regulates blood pressure and increases blood flow throughout the body, both of which are key to heart health.
Laughter burns calories. Since it uses energy and increases your heart rate by 10 to 20 percent, laughing for 10-15 minutes a day could burn 10 to 40 calories a day, which can be about 2 kilos less after a year.