The cortisol effect cascades to implications in the brain that may even translate to preserving memory.
A good belly laugh can of course enhance your mood, but as the Mayo Clinic points out, there are resounding benefits beyond boosting your mental health. Their experts say that in particular, your muscles and various vital organs benefit from bouts of laughter, too: “Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain,” reports the Mayo Clinic.
The brain is especially responsive to this surge of activity, bringing not only emotional relief, but also neurochemical advantages. Beyond easing depression, anxiety, and insomnia, “research also shows that laughter can improve memory,” say experts from Stanford University.
They explain that chronic exposure to the stress hormone cortisol can age the hippocampus—that’s the part of your brain that handles memories and learning—but laughter helps counteract that process: “Studies indicate that laughter reduces cortisol levels, leading to a healthier hippocampus and improved memory, which, in turn, enhances the quality of our lives,” they note.
Your cardiovascular system appears to enjoy this spontaneous workout as well. Says Harvard Health Publishing: “Laughter also appears to go beyond the belly and the brain—arteries respond to it in healthy ways that could improve blood flow and long-term health.”
In a study they cite, subjects who watched comedic videos saw increased artery function and flexibility compared to those who watched serious documentaries. In other words: “These improved immediately in the volunteers who watched a comedy and stayed that way for almost 24 hours. In those who watched a documentary, though, artery function decreased a bit.”
Muscles respond, too, contracting intensely during strong bursts of laughter. As a result, “Laughter relaxes the whole body,” says a 2023 Heart Views journal study. “A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 [minutes] after.”
Finally, the lungs get their own workout, ultimately improving your pulmonary and respiratory health. The American Lung Association explains: “When you laugh, your lungs get rid of stale air allowing more oxygen to enter. This is because laughter helps to expand alveoli, the tiny air sacs in your lungs. Expanding these means that the area for oxygen exchange is bigger and more oxygen enters your lungs.”
So, the next time something tickles your funny bone, know that your good mood is more than warranted. Hearty and heartfelt laughter is a powerfully positive habit, improving your mental and physical health.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
- Here’s How Long a Hug Needs to Last to Soothe Your Nervous System, Says Science
- Study: Daily Fasting for This Long Results in Weight Loss and Better Mood
- 8 Health Benefits of Laughing, According to Neuroscience Research
- Sebastian Maniscalco Reveals How Jerry Seinfeld Helped Him Establish a Mental Health Routine
