Humans start laughing as early as 3 months of age, even before we can speak or can do much of anything else. 

While laughter can’t treat actual pain directly, it does have major health benefits.

For example, the act of laughing can increase your oxygen intake, stimulating your heart, lungs, and muscles.

Let’s explore why laughter is important.

Why Laughter is Important

When you start to laugh, it actually induces physical changes in your body. As mentioned, laughter can enhance your intake of oxygen, stimulate your heart, lungs and muscles, and increase the endorphins that are released by your brain. Endorphins make us feel happy and help relieve pain and stress.

Laughter can also even boost our immune system through the release of stress-reducing neuropeptides.

What Makes Your Brain Happy?

The main chemicals that drive the positive emotions we feel are: 

• Dopamine.
• Oxytocin.
• Serotonin.
• Endorphins.

Does Laughing Make Dopamine?

Laughter releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which serves as a reward for the brain, creating a sense of euphoria, and helps play a pivotal role in our motivations and behaviours. Dopamine can also enhance both learning, and attention.

What Happens to My Brain When I Laugh?

In essence laughing swaps the cortisol in our bloodstream with those highly sought after chemicals in the brain: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.

The endorphins can act as a mild pain reliever, while serotonin is an antidepressant.

What Does Psychology Say About Smiling?

According to some researchers, a genuine smile reflects the inner state of cheerfulness or amusement. However, the behavioral ecology theory suggests that all smiles are tools used in social interactions.

Does the Bible Say Laughter is Good for the Soul?

“He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” — Proverbs 15:15

What Makes a Laugh Contagious?

There’s a physiological reason why laughter is contagious. 

The sound of someone else laughing triggers regions in the front of the brain. At a subconscious level we are mirroring or mimicking their gestures, in this case laughing.

What Causes You to Laugh?

Laughter is a physical response to external or internal stimuli. Laughter can rise from such physical activities as being tickled, hearing humorous stories, or even internal thoughts. Most commonly, it’s considered an auditory expression of positive emotional states, such as joy, happiness, or relief.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen and gathered, laughter is a positive sensation, and seems to be a great, healthy way to overcome stress. 

Laughter can help us maintain our positive state of well-being, and it can help keep our social relationships healthy, ultimately improving our quality of life.

Even a fake smile has been known to have a positive impact on mood.

Those natural chemicals mentioned elevate our moods, relax our bodies, and reduce physical pain.

Please keep smiling and laughing, and consider laughter your natural drug.

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Why Laughing is Important