Piedmont Heart Institute cardiologist Randy Martin, M.D., explains why laughter is good for the mind, body and spirit.

There is a great Irish proverb that says, “A good laugh and a long night’s sleep is the best medicine in a doctor’s bag,” and that is exactly right because laughter is great for your health.

Here’s why: Laughter is a visual expression of happiness, and it gives you a sense of inner joy and well-being. Interestingly, laughter is a unique human expression or emotion that is regulated by our brain.

Research into the health benefits of laughter began in 1979 when Norman Cousins, a famous publisher, wrote about a chronic illness that caused him intense pain. He found that laughing for 10 minutes at funny videos gave him two hours of pain-free living.

Two top researchers, Dr. Lee Burk at Loma Linda University and Dr. Mike Miller at the University of Maryland, began to delve more deeply into the notion that laughter can have physical and mental benefits.

Dr. Burk’s studies showed that laughter likely suppressed the negative effects of the stress hormone cortisol in the body and boosted the immune system’s ability to fight off infection. He also studied heart attack patients and found that those who laughed daily were less likely to have recurrent heart events.

Dr. Miller’s experiments found that laughter dilates the blood vessels. If you watch a stressful movie scene, such as the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan, your blood vessels constrict all over the body, which can increase your blood pressure and put stress on your cardiovascular system.

Laughter had the exact opposite effect: blood vessels dilated dramatically, which had a beneficial effect on the body. There is strong scientific evidence that indicates laughter is good for your health, and it is also a great way to communicate. Think about how laughter is almost contagious; it’s a great social interaction skill and can even relieve stress and anxiety.

To laugh more every day, spend time with friends and family members who have a great sense of humor, or find something humorous to laugh at, whether it is a movie, television show or cartoon.

For more stress reduction tips, click here.

Need to make an appointment with a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online.