A good sense of humor can help you cope with the coronavirus pandemic and other difficult situations. Humor might appear to be a calming salve or a light diversion. Humor, on the other hand, is far more effective than anything that simply soothes or relaxes us.
It's an often-overlooked weapon in our armory when it comes to staying healthy. When faced with a slew of economic, social, political, and health issues, it's prudent to turn to a less-obvious means of defense. Humor and laughter provide a wide range of health advantages.
While it may appear that you're simply laughing at a friend's joke or a comedian's monologue during moments of lightness, you're actually enhancing your health.
Clinical data reveals that tickling our funny bones not only entertains us, but also improves our physical, psychological, and social well-being.
Physical Benefits of Humor
Laughter, in its most fundamental level, works your diaphragm. It allows you to inhale more oxygenated air while also stimulating your lungs. You are releasing physical tension in your muscles during those moments of boisterous laughter.
Laughter Has the Potential to Improve Heart Health
Medical professionals tell us that while those muscles relax during what appears to be a small exercise, your vascular function improves as well. Your cardiac health improves when you chuckle at amusing situations. Laughter causes your heart rate to rise and your blood pressure to drop. That isn't even the full list of advantages you stand to receive.
Physical Pain Is Eased and Comforted by Humor
Let's imagine you're suffering from a migraine and are binge-watching a hilarious Netflix comedy. You become diverted from the migraine's pain and agony while you watch and chuckle. However, distraction isn't the only factor in reducing pain perception.
Behind the scenes in your body, proven processes are increasing your pain tolerance. For example, endorphins get to work. Your body produces these natural painkillers because you're laughing so hard.
Laughter Can Help You Sleep Better and Boost Your Immunity
Another physical benefit of laughing heartily and frequently is that it improves sleep quality, according to study.
Overall, laughter strengthens the immune system, making you more illness resistant. As a result, by laughing, which appears to be a harmless action, you are multiplying antibody-producing cells and improving the efficacy of T cells in your body. To combat sickness, these cells work as a defense force.
Psychological Benefits
While the COVID-19 pandemic is no laughing matter, comedy can help us cope with the stress and anxiety that comes with it.
Laughter is a stress reliever.
Humor has been shown to lower stress hormones in clinical studies. When you're anxious, cortisol is a main stress hormone that circulates throughout your body. Cortisol levels must be reduced since high cortisol levels stress your immune system.
Humor has been shown to improve memory in studies.
Another benefit of employing comedy that may surprise you is that it has to do with the brain. Humor can help you remember things better. When you couple relevant comedy with a fact, you're more likely to remember that knowledge.
Social Benefits
It's quite OK to laugh together at hilarious, funny, or absurd things. When you connect with others via comedy, your relationships benefit.
People come together when they laugh.
A shared chuckle brings people together. Most of us can recall a time when laughing was contagious and moved quickly from two people to a group of people. People frequently become closer after sharing a laugh.
Conversations are more positive when people laugh.
Another important societal effect of humor is that it improves interpersonal communication. When you share a meme or tell a joke, the other person is more likely to want to talk to you. Using humor, especially during difficult conversations or conflicts, might help you have a more productive interaction. It relieves tension and allows the other person to relax.
Sharing amusing stories can not only make your friend, relative, or coworker laugh, but will also improve their mood. They'll probably leave in a better mood and happy than they were before.
It all boils down to being human when dealing with others. A shared understanding of mankind is required to laugh at one of your own characteristics or make fun of yourself for a mistake you did.
Humor can assist you in better understanding yourself and others.
Whatever makes you chuckle, especially when you're going through a difficult period. Those viral TikTok videos and hilarious memes aren't just for fun. They assist us in coping with anxiety, dread, and loss, which are all side effects of the pandemic's impact on our life. Simultaneously, you'll be triggering a slew of health-related benefits for yourself and others.
