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We all need a laugh these days! Laughter has great health benefits.
What doctors and researchers say:
Dr. Lee Berk & Dr. Stanley Tan — Loma Linda University
These two researchers at Loma Linda University in California have been among the most dedicated in studying laughter's health benefits, finding remarkable results including effects on blood pressure, stroke and heart attack risk, and stress hormone levels. Dr. Berk has been studying laughter's effects on the body since 1988, and he considers his team the leading authority on "mirthful laughter" and its psycho-neuro-immunological effects. GaiamLLU News
Dr. Edward Creagan — Mayo Clinic
Dr. Creagan at Mayo Clinic has long advocated for humor in medicine, arguing that if a patient can find a moment of levity in the face of crisis, it helps them cope better and deal with the uncertainties of their condition. Mayo Clinic Press
Dr. Gigi Otálvaro — Stanford University
Dr. Otálvaro, associate director of Stanford Living Education, teaches a course called "Laughter & Play for Wellbeing" and emphasizes that laughter helps with emotional regulation and resilience, noting that after laughter exercises people have a greater capacity to feel joy. Stanford
Robert Provine — Laughter Researcher
Robert Provine, a noted laughter researcher, has urged the public not to wait for science to resolve every detail, encouraging people to get in as much laughter as they can while the research continues. PubMed Central
Norman Cousins — Pioneer Patient-Advocate
While not a physician himself, Norman Cousins was an influential author who, after being diagnosed with a chronic and debilitating disorder, prescribed himself liberal doses of vitamin C and laughter, claiming it created a pain-analgesic effect — helping spark
Health benefits of laughter
•Cardiovascular health — Laughing increases heart rate and blood flow, giving your heart a mild workout. Studies show it can improve blood vessel function and reduce risk of heart disease.
•Immune boost — Laughter increases the production of antibodies and activates immune cells (T-cells and NK cells), helping your body fight off illness more effectively.
•Pain relief — It triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, which can temporarily ease chronic pain and create a general sense of well-being.
•Muscle relaxation — A good laugh can relieve physical tension and relax muscles for up to 45 minutes afterward.
•Blood sugar — Some research suggests laughter after meals may help moderate blood glucose levels, beneficial for people with diabetes.
•Mental & Psychological Benefits
•Stress reduction — Laughter lowers cortisol and adrenaline (stress hormones), quickly shifting your body out of the fight-or-flight state.
•Mood elevation — It releases dopamine and serotonin, the same neurotransmitters targeted by antidepressants, helping combat anxiety and depression.
•Cognitive function — Humor and laughter engage multiple brain regions and have been linked to improved memory, creativity, and alertness.
•Resilience — People who laugh more tend to cope better with hardship, using humor as a buffer against life's difficulties.
•Social & Relational Benefits The bottom line: laughter engages your body, brain, and social systems simultaneously — making it one of the most holistic, zero-cost health interventions available.
decades of scientific interest in the topic. Michigan Today