Some people say: “Laughter cures all diseases.” Laughter is also an international language. Laughter is also regarded as a kind of exercise, such as Laughter yoga, which originated in India and is popular in Europe and the United States. Happy emotions have many benefits for the body and mind. Laughter is also very contagious and has scientific basis. What is the magic of laughter? Let’s find out below!

Study proves laughter is contagious

Have you ever had the experience that when you hear someone else laughing, you want to laugh too, or even just burst out laughing? This is normal, agrees Sophie Scott, professor of cognitive neurology at University College London: “When you laugh, the whole world laughs too.” Research by Scott and his team shows that when people hear laughter, the premotor cortical region of the brain, which controls emotions, becomes active and stimulates the corresponding facial muscles, making it easier for us to laugh.

This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe the brain responses of subjects when they heard different sounds. Compared with negative sounds such as screaming and vomiting, positive sounds such as laughter and victory cheers , the brain’s response will be much stronger, showing that positive emotions are far more contagious than negative emotions. Research by Aalto University in Finland and the National Research Center of Finland also showed the same results.

5 health benefits of laughing

1. Release stress:
   Laughing can reduce stress hormones (Cortisol, also known as cortisol, cortisol) and secrete endorphins (Endorphin, also known as endorphin), making people feel happy. Therefore, laughter can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, relieve pain and discomfort, and relax the tense body and mind, and can last up to 45 minutes.
   
2. Strengthen the immune system:
   In addition to reducing stress, laughter can also promote the production of immune cells and increase antibodies, thereby improving immunity and preventing colds and diseases from coming to your doorstep.
   
3. Burn calories and train abdominal muscles:
   If you laugh for 10 to 15 minutes a day, you can consume about 40 calories and lose 1 to 2 kilograms in a year. And when you laugh, it affects the abdominal muscles, which are very similar to the muscles used when training abdominal muscles.
   
4. Promote cardiovascular health:
   Laughter accelerates blood flow, promotes blood vessel health, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
   
5. Extended lifespan:
   The above-mentioned various health benefits cover both physical and mental health. When the body and mind are healthier, the lifespan will be correspondingly extended. This confirms the saying “laughter is the best medicine”, and there are People with a sense of humor are not only more likely to laugh and relax themselves, they are also more likely to make others laugh happily. A 15-year research data also shows the health benefits of humor. Women with a higher sense of humor have a 48% lower risk of death from various diseases, and the mortality rates of heart disease and various infections are reduced respectively. 73% and 83%; men with a higher sense of humor had a 74% lower infection fatality rate.