We are used to hearing that laughter and positive emotions are beneficial. Meanwhile, scientists and doctors have come to the conclusion that they bring real benefits to our health and are even capable of treating some ailments.
Norwegian study
Specialists from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology have published the results of another study that lasted for 15 years. 53 556 Norwegians took part in it. The researchers analyzed various health parameters of the subjects (from blood pressure to body mass index), and also asked them to fill out questionnaires, which included the following questions: "Do you consider yourself a funny person?", "Do you easily recognize the signs of a joke?" or: "How easy is it to make you laugh when tired?" In addition, it was required to respond with consent or disagreement to statements such as: "Unhappy people are irresponsible, and it is better not to mess with them." The purpose of the surveys was to assess the social, affective (emotional) and cognitive (cognitive) components of humor. In parallel, the participants were asked to rate their own health on a five-point scale from “bad” to “excellent”.
Subsequently, the authors of the study drew conclusions about the relationship between gaiety and health. So what health problems can laughter cure?
Laughter Prevents Heart Disease
Research has shown that people who laugh often have a reduced risk of heart disease, decreased mental stress, and normalized blood pressure and blood circulation.
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As with sports, laughter stabilizes blood supply, heart rate, respiration, and cholesterol levels. Doctors have proven that 20 seconds of laughter in terms of the effectiveness of the effect on health corresponds to 5 minutes of sports running.
Boosts immunity
Laughter is also a wonderful stimulant for the immune system. Note - those who often laugh are less likely to have infectious diseases!
Removes muscle clamps
The fact is that in physiological terms, laughter is rhythmic exhalations that enrich the body with oxygen, experts say. In addition, a laughing person has about 80 muscle groups working. For example, the muscles of the neck and back are relaxed, the facial muscles are stretched, which can sometimes even relieve headaches.
Reduces stress levels
According to one of the study's authors, Emeritus Professor of Neuromedicine Sven Svebak, one of the main useful functions of humor is protection from stress. “Children who don't see adults humorously deal with stress are unlikely to do it themselves in the future,” he writes in an article published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
Removes depression
When you laugh, the hormones endorphins are produced, which reduce pain and prevent the development of depression.
If you develop a state of depression and depression, practice "laugh" meditation, experts recommend. Try laughing at breakfast - just like that, for no reason. At first, this may seem ridiculous to you, but after a few days you will notice that you are laughing no longer forcefully and through force, but quite sincerely - the mood will rise, the body will begin to produce "hormones of happiness."
Improves metabolism and increases the likelihood of conception
Experts said that women who were entertained by a clown during the IVF procedure had a 16% increase in the likelihood of successful fertilization.
Reduces the risk of death
It also turned out that people with a developed so-called cognitive component of a sense of humor (the ability to assess the humorous component of information) were less likely to experience mortality from cardiovascular diseases and various infections.
Scientists have determined that the tendency to laugh reduces the risk of death in women in general by 48%, from heart disease - by 73%, from infections - by 83%. Men with a heightened sense of humor have a 74% lower risk of dying from infections.
Irina Shlionskaya