Everyone knows ‘laughter is the best medicine’. Now research shows exactly why a good chuckle can boost your health.
Here are seven good reasons why you should laugh more:
 
1. Boosts your immunity – Laughter may defend against colds, cancer and other conditions affected by a weakened immunity. The blood of patients who watched a humorous video contained higher levels of antibodies and natural killer cells after the viewing.
 
2. Reduces pain – It’s harder to feel pain when you are laughing. Studies have reported less perceived pain from burns, surgery and other conditions during and following a mirthful bout of laughter.
 
3. Relaxes your muscles – Vigorous laughter provides a form of internal massage and exercise for your diaphragm muscles. After laugher you’re likely to feel more relaxed.

4. Expands your lungs – A hearty chortle can enhance respiratory function. In one study, the long sigh following laughter induced by funny videos increased oxygen intake.

5. Improves blood flow – Laughter can increase blood flow to the heart. When volunteers watched a funny movie that made them laugh, their arteries dilated in a similar way to that caused by aerobic exercise.
Blood vessel dilation was 50% better after the comedy than after a depressing film.

6. Reduces stress – A good giggle can counteract the release of stress hormones. When a group of sixteen men watched a funny video their levels of cortisol fell by 39% and adrenaline dropped by 70%. 

7. Elevates your mood – Laughter-induced endorphins can calm the mind and induce positive emotions. When the men in the study above were told they would watch the funny video in three days time, they experienced an anticipatory increase in endorphin levels. Looking
forward to a good laugh appears to be just as important as laughing itself.