Laughter: A Cure for All 
By Siobhan Gamble, Staff Writer

Here’s to laughter-- Did you know that laughing is not only fun, but it is also good for your overall health? It has been found that people who laugh the least are 40 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease than people who laugh more frequently. This goes to show us that there is nothing more important than happiness. Even when it comes to aspects of success, laughter cites its establishment. Have you had your dosage for the day? 

Research has shown that the benefits of laughter are immeasurable. It has the tendency to reduce the level of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, dopamine and adrenaline; increasing the level of health-enhancing hormones such as endorphins and neurotransmitters. It increases the number of anti-body producing cells, enhancing the effectiveness of T cells. This makes for a stronger immune system and less physical effects of stress. 

Have you ever felt so down to the point where you had to laugh in order to keep yourself from crying? Whenever this happens, you are experiencing the “cleansing” sensation that can only come from a good laugh. That’s right; laughter is a good source of physical and emotional release. How about laughing so hard until you cried? You know the kind of laughter that will cause you to ball up on the floor in an almost unbearable pain (all those times where you thought you would actually die from laughing; don’t worry it can not kill you). A good belly laugh hurts because while it exercises the diaphragm, it is also contracting the abs, working out the shoulders and giving your heart a good pumping. It increases you oxygen intake and is an overall incredible internal workout. Laughter is also a good distraction for bringing the focus away from anger and other negative emotions. It will give us a more cheerful, optimistic perspective, helping us to view life event as challenges rather than anything unconstructive. 

Laughter is a gift that helps connect us with others. It is highly contagious and speaks every language known to man. By bringing laughter into our lives, we are introducing it to others around us, allowing them to benefit from its effects as well. Similar to a boomerang’s effect, by elevating the mood of people around you, you are reducing their stress level which in turn improves the quality of the social interaction between you, reducing your stress level even more. 

There are so many ways to make use of laughter. Whether you find it through television (comedies, up roaring T.V. shows and movies are a good source of on-demand laughter), Laughing with friends (excellent way to make use of the contagious effects of laughter while watching movies together, having parties, game nights, etc.), or even faking it (fake laughter provides the same benefits), you can laugh your way into a happier, healthier emotional and physical state. It is a fact that pre-school aged children laugh at least 400 times a day. By the time we reach adulthood that number drastically drops to around 17 times a day on average. Laughter is an extremely crucial part of our lives, especially if we wish to stay young in mind, body and soul. 

Back in the 1950’s, people use to laugh 20 minutes out of every day. Nowadays we laugh a mere 6 minutes out of every day. Something has definitely changed since then but it’s time that we jump back on the bandwagon to happiness. It seems as if we have forgotten how to laugh. We have to learn how to make the best out of every experience. Even when times get rough or if something embarrassing happens, learning to laugh at yourself will lighten up the atmosphere as well as create a story to share and laugh about with others.  

Here are some facts about laughter than I bet you didn’t know: 

• Laughing vigorously100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes spent on an exercise bike. It increases the heart rate, deepens breathing, and utilizes the stomach, diaphragm and face muscles.
• Laughter is sub-categorized according to its extent and pitch. Chuckles, giggles, cackles, snickers and guffaws are examples of such.
• Women tend to laugh in a “singing” manner while men often grunt or snort.
• Smiling is considered a mild form of laughing
• Babies tend to start laughing around 4 months of age.
• When you hear people laughing, you usually begin smiling even if you don’t know why they are laughing.
• Laughter is a subconscious signal used for being part of a group. It signals acceptance and positive interaction.
• People with certain types of brain damage such as pseudo bulbar palsy, gelastic epilepsy and multiple sclerosis produce abnormal laughter.
• Laughter generates creativity.
• People who study laughter are called Gelotologists.

Siobhan Gamble is a staff writer for The Successful Office Group

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