Laughter is a natural and universal human behavior.
Clinically, laughter has been successfully used to positively influence
stress, immune function, and health. The clinical use of laughter for
health-related purposes does not require large amounts of time or effort.
Thus, laughter-related therapies could provide a reliable treatment option
and considerable savings for health-care systems globally. There are
several kinds of laughter. Spontaneous laughter is triggered by external,
often humorous stimuli and positive emotions while simulated laughter is
self-induced, purposeful, and not elicited by external stimuli or positive
emotions. Stimulated laughter occurs as a reaction to external stimulation
like tickling. Spontaneous laughter and simulated laughter have been
studied most frequently in the context of health interventions .
Cool-down
• Sharing of feelings
• Relaxation/meditation with music
• Stretching exercises • Clown with costumes and make up
• Interaction with patients using various methods (e.g., balloons, puppets,
word games, magic tricks, dice tricks, jokes etc.)
• Combination of humor (bringing fun to people and making people laugh) and
love (treating patients with compassion and generosity, getting close to
patients) • Watching funny videos
• Watching comedian live-performances
• Listening to an humorous audiotape
Among the positive effects, physiological benefits have been observed
involving the muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and
central nervous systems. Psychological benefits in terms of cognitive, and
social functioning, mental health, and quality of life have been described
in various reviews. Laughter-inducing interventions could have a positive
impact on health in patients with somatic or mental health problems.
Patients might benefit from those interventions through improved mood,
well-being, or quality of life, or alternatively through reduced anxiety,
depression, stress, pain or fatigue. Adverse events were reported very
rarely and only one study found significant negative effects of laughter
interventions. Laughter-inducing interventions using simulated laughter
produced the largest positive effects on mental health. Moreover, it seems
to be more beneficial when laughter is applied in groups. However, internal
validity of the included trials was limited and there was substantial
heterogeneity in the study pool, which could be reduced only in part, by
excluding statistical outliers. We suggest future research apply methods
leading to low risk of bias and to aim at a balanced reporting of benefits
and harms of laughter-inducing interventions. Open research questions are
related to differential effects of laughter (Who benefits most under which
circumstances?) and mechanisms of action (Why does it work?).
Boosts Immunity
Laughter can help strengthen our immune system by increasing
antibody-producing cells and enhancing T-cell effectiveness.1 Stronger
immunity means that we're better able to fight off the latest cold or flu
bug, also reducing our risk of major disease.
Improves Heart Health
Studies have associated laughter with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular
diseases. In one particular study, researchers noted that people who
laughed daily had a reduced prevalence of conditions affecting the
cardiovascular system.2 This makes regular laughing good for the heart,
What Causes Chest Pressure During Stress?
Reduces Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Another study links laughter with a reduction in metabolic syndrome risk
factors.3 In this study, subjects who engaged in laughter yoga (a form of
yoga that utilizes simulated laughter) for 12 weeks significantly reduced
their body weight, body mass index (BMI), and stress—all of which can
increase one's risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Also sometimes called insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome
refers to a group of factors that, together, can increase your risk of
diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and more.4
Increases Longevity
Another piece of research adds that, in addition to being associated with
reduced cardiovascular disease incidences, regular laughing is also
connected with reduced all-cause mortality.5 This suggests that laughter
can enhance longevity.
Eases Pain
The ability of laughter to ease pain was first described in 1979 by Norman
Cousins in his book As Anatomy of an Illness.6 Cousins developed ankylosing
spondylitis, an inflammatory disease characterized by chronic back pain
that left him confined to bed. As his condition continued to deteriorate,
he decided to take his health into his own hands, in part, by using
laughter, which is when he began to improve.7
More recent research confirms laughter's positive effects on pain. For
instance, in a study involving 40 subjects, researchers found that their
pain tolerance was favorably influenced after watching a comedy for 30
minutes, while pain tolerance decreased after viewing a documentary for the
same length of time.8
Protects Physical Function
If our physical functionality declines, we can find it harder to do
everyday activities such as dressing or bathing ourselves. Laughter appears
to reduce the risk of developing functional disabilities, particularly when
we laugh regularly and with others (more so than when laughing alone).9
Strengthens the Core
A good belly laugh is good for building strength in the trunk, particularly
the abdominal muscles, even working the internal obliques more than
traditional exercises.10 Laughing also engages muscles in the diaphragm and
shoulders, giving you a good non-exercise workout.
Mental Health Benefits of Laughter
Laughter doesn't only benefit us physically but mentally too. Here's how.
Lowers Stress
The American Psychological Association's 2022 Stress in America report
reveals that, on a scale of one to 10, most Americans place their stress
levels at a five, with more than one in four indicating that their stress
is so bad they can't function most days.11 Laughter helps by decreasing the
stress hormone cortisol and reversing the stress response.12
How Prolonged Stress Impacts Your Health
Improves Depression
Laughing can also alter levels of neurotransmitters in the body, namely
dopamine and serotonin, also increasing the release of endorphins.12
Together, this help improve depression symptoms.
Serves as a Distraction
What happens when you laugh? You tend to forget about things that are
bothering you. This makes laughter a good way to take the focus off of the
challenges you face. It helps distract you, even if just for a moment,
giving you a much-needed mental health break.
Changes Our Perspective
When we face major tragedies or trauma in our lives, it can affect how we
view the world. According to research, humor can make severe events funnier
over time.13 This helps us keep these incidents in perspective while
reducing their negative impact on our mental health.
Laughter as a Coping Mechanism
Social Benefits of Laughter
Laughter also helps us connect with others.12 Think of times when you've
been with friends and laughed so hard that tears rolled down your face. Did
this make you feel more connected with your friends? It's likely that your
answer is yes.
Just as with smiling and kindness, most people also find that laughter is
contagious. So, if you work on laughing more, you can help others laugh
more and realize these benefits as well.
By elevating the mood of those around you, you can help reduce their stress
levels and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience
with them, reducing your stress level even more!
வாழ்க்கையில் துன்பங்கள் வரும்போது மனம் தளராமல் புன்னகையுடன் எதிர்கொண்டு அதை
வெல்ல வேண்டும் என்பதை உணர்த்தும் புகழ்பெற்ற திருக்குறள் இது.
"இடுக்கண் வருங்கால் நகுக அதனைஅடுத்தூர்வது அஃதொப்பதில்"பொருள்:
துன்பம் வந்து நம்மைச் சூழ்ந்துகொள்ளும்போது அதற்கு அஞ்சி அழக்கூடாது. மாறாக, மனம்
தளராமல் புன்னகைக்க வேண்டும்; அந்தத் துன்பத்தை எதிர்த்து வெல்வதற்கு அந்த
மகிழ்ச்சியான மனநிலையை விடச் சிறந்த ஆயுள் வேறொன்றுமில்லை.
ஆங்கிலம் (English)
Itukkan Varungaal Nakuka Adhanai
Atuththoorvadhu Aqdhoppa Thil
iṭukkaṇ varuṅkāl nakuka ataṉai
aṭuttūrvatu aḥtoppa til.
Laugh at misfortune. There is nothing so able, To triumph over it.
ஹிந்தி (हिन्दी)
जब दुख-संकट आ पड़े, तब करना उल्लास ।
तत्सम कोई ना करे, भिड़ कर उसका नाश ॥ (६२१)
தெலுங்கு (తెలుగు)
దుఃఖములను పారదోలంగ మార్గంబు
నొవ్వకుండ జూచి నవ్వుకొనుటె. (౬౨౧)
மலையாளம் (മലയാളം)
ആപത്തു നേരിടും നേരം മനശ്ചാഞ്ചല്യമാകൊലാ സ്മേരനായതിനെ നേരിട്ടകറ്റേണമതേ വഴി
(൬൱൨൰൧)
கன்னடம் (ಕನ್ನಡ)
ಆಪತ್ತು ಬಂದಾಗ (ಅಧೀರರಾಗದೆ) ನಗಬೇಕು; ಅದನ್ನು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿ ಸಹಿಸಿ ಗೆದ್ದುನಿಂತರೆ
ಅದಕ್ಕೂಪ್ಪುವಂಥದು ಬೇರೆ ಇಲ್ಲ. (೬೨೧)
சமஸ்கிருதம் (संस्कृतम्)
प्राप्तेऽपि व्यसने खेदं त्यक्तवोत्साहपरो भव ।
खापनोदनपटुरुत्साहानास्ति कश्चन ॥ (६२१)
K RAJARAM IRS 30526
On Sat, 30 May 2026 at 05:57, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]>
wrote:
> 🌟 Thought for the Day – Laughter (30 May 2026)
> Laughter is a gift that lightens burdens and heals hearts; a good laugh is
> better than anything.
> 🌸 May this Saturday fill your day with smiles and joy. 🌸
> 🌟 இன்றைய சிந்தனை – சிரிப்பு (30 May 2026)
> சிரிப்பு என்பது சுமைகளை இலகுவாக்கி, இதயங்களை ஆற்றும் பரிசு; ஒரு நல்ல
> சிரிப்பு எதையும் விட சிறந்தது.
> 🌸 இந்த சனி உங்கள் நாளை சிரிப்பும் மகிழ்ச்சியுமாக நிரப்பட்டும். 🌸
>
> *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as
> important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a
> happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
>
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