Laughter truly is the “best medicine.” Not just a platitude, laughter has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and boost mood while improving physical health by lowering blood pressure, strengthening immunity and relieving pain levels.
With chronic disease, multimorbidity, and psychosocial issues on the rise among older adults, it has never been more important to prioritise well-being. Well-being can be defined as “feeling cheerful, active, rested, and interested in life”1. Humor and laughter have been shown to increase happiness, joy, optimism energy cognitive function while decreasing feelings of loneliness depression tension.
Finding things to make you laugh can sometimes be challenging, but finding humor and laughing more frequently can help ensure a healthier and happier later life. Laughter helps relax the entire body by stimulating circulation and increasing oxygen intake while simultaneously releasing natural feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins that boost moods and make people happier.
Processing humor helps keep the brain sharp and may delay dementia or Alzheimer’s disease from setting in. While watching funny videos or exchanging jokes with loved ones can be fun, for maximum benefits it is best to engage in activities which promote face-to-face interactions among your favorite people.