Why Laughter is Good for You!

Everybody loves a good laugh. We go to the cinema to watch comedies (even if they aren't very good sometimes!), we love unwinding with Kumar, Irene and Hossan at comedy clubs, and we subconsciously seek the company of people who make us laugh.

Laughter is a universal pleasure and we don't need to be told why we love to laugh. But why is laughter good for us?

I'm sure you don't need a doctor to tell you that a good laugh instantly balances any disharmony in your mind and body. Having a good laugh has long been known to be very therapeutic. There is evidence to show that even ancient civilisations held laughter in high regard, incorporating it into their arts and culture, with some claiming that laughter "pierces the hopelessness of any situation or attitude and holds the chemistry of immortality".

Pretty poetry that holds powerful truth... and these days of course, we know precisely how. Laughter opens up your lungs, relieves the tension in your muscles, and gives you a big rush of oxygen. When it does this, it also helps your blood flow more efficiently, lowering your blood pressure. Laughter also lowers the disease-causing chemical cortisol in your body, protecting your immune system from the negative effects of stress.

Laughter is nature's own miracle healer, and its power is at your disposal anytime!

Since laughter helps keep our bodies in tiptop condition, it also maintains our minds in the ideal state for seeking and absorbing knowledge. When we laugh, we breathe harder, our heart beats faster and we get more oxygen to the brain. This stimulates the release of serotonin, leading to feelings of contentment and happiness.

A happy worker is also a good worker.

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Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd