By Dr Jaspreet Dosanjh
You’ve probably heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.”
Well, as more and more studies by my fellow scientists show, that is proving to be an accurate statement.
Those of you who are spending this challenging time in lockdown streaming your favorite sitcoms should be applauded. When it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the reality of news and paying attention to death tolls, it may become difficult to look for ways to laugh, but this is the most important time to keep your spirits up and seek out joy.
Just consider the physiological benefits: laughter allows stress, fear and sadness to be released in a cathartic manner. Sounds like a helpful antidote to me!
I’ve spent much of my career in virology and research laboratories but there are other scientists who work in the study of laughter, a field known as Gelotology. Much of that study, along with the use of laughter as therapy, has been influenced by the writing of Norman Cousins, author of the bestselling Anatomy of Illness, who detailed how watching comedy helped him deal with the pain of inflammatory arthritis.
Doctors have been recommending laughter as a treatment based on mood elevation since the 1300s. But the laughter as medicine concept goes as far back as biblical times. The Book of Proverbs states: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
Have you heard of laughter yoga? It’s a real thing. Started 25 years ago by Dr Madam Kataria when he got a group of strangers together in a park just to laugh. He found that when it was difficult to find reasons to laugh, faking laughter achieved the same physiological and psychological benefits as if the laughter was real.
And get this, laughter is considered to be an aerobic exercise that burns calories.
If you are craving some solid scientific facts to show all this is not a joke, laughter has been proven to:
– increase the number of Natural Killer Cells, that destroy tumors and viruses.
– increase Gamma Interferon, T-Cells, B-Cells which work to fight disease and help immune response.
– increase salivary Immunoglobulin A, which defends against infectious organisms entering the respiratory tract.
– improve the defense against respiratory infections.
– reduce the amount of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which contribute to suppressing the immune system and raising blood pressure.
– produce a discharge of endorphins with both euphoric and calming effects
So what are you supposed to do with all this information? Please allow me to recommend some shows that work for me whenever I need a smile.
The American sitcoms I always chuckle at are The Big Bang Theory, Mom, The Goldbergs, and re-runs of Frasier. British humor tickles a different funny bone and I never tire from watching the shenanigans of the nerds in The IT Crowd. If you like cartoons there’s Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom. That Nanny Plum is something else…obviously I watch this only because of my nieces and nephews. And then, by complete contrast, there is ‘Killing Eve’ – a bit dark, but if you have a dark sense of humor it will suit your mood.
Just find what works for you – there is no judgement. Laughter is contagious, so let’s all lead by example, spread some joy and laugh our way to a healthier, happier life. Each and every one of us can be part of the medicine that is needed to bring our communities together through positivity and love.
Misery might enjoy company, but laughter definitely is the best medicine. I personally can’t see anything but benefits…. it is free, you don’t need healthcare and it doesn’t have any known negative side effects. Well, other than hiccups, but even they help to clear the respiratory tract.
And remember if you still have trouble laughing.. just fake it. As science says…it will still be beneficial. We will make it through all this together – and we’ll come out laughing.
*Disclaimer…..this is advice to be taken in addition to CDC guidelines.
