Laughter is the best medicine — literally

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine.” Maybe someone said it to you when you were feeling sick, or you might even have said it to someone else when they needed it.

This phrase rings truer than you might think. What are the health benefits of laughing? There are quite a few short- and long-term effects.

According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing releases endorphins, or the “feel-good” chemical. This chemical is produced in your body and helps you feel good and can even temporarily relieve pain and stress.

Laughter also can help soothe tension by promoting blood circulation and relaxing your muscles. Laughing can increase and decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, and it can ease anxiety and tension. All these things can improve your mood.

Along with the short-term benefits of laughing, there are many long-term effects.

Because laughter has the power to increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies — which protect you from infections — laughing can improve your immune system, the mental health nonprofit HelpGuide reported. This means you become more resistant to disease.

There was even a study done in Norway that found people with a strong sense of humor lived longer than those who don’t laugh as much.

Laughter is a universal language that can help you cope with difficult situations and connect with other people. When you share a laugh with others, it makes you and others happier and more relaxed.

Now that you know some of the benefits of laughter, go ahead and give it a try! Dig out some jokes and make it a habit to share a joke or two with your friends to make them laugh.

Hanah Kitamoto is a senior at Iowa City West High School and the co-editor-in-chief of the West Side Story.