“Ridere, ridere ancora” (tr. “laugh, laugh again”), is not just the beginning of a famous song by Roberto Vecchioni, but a real piece of advice for well-being. And what better day to follow it than this Sunday being it World Laughter Day. This day has been celebrated on the first Sunday in May since 1998. It originated thanks to the initiative of Indian physician Madan Kataria, founder of the international Hasyayoga movement, a form of yoga that precisely stimulates self-induced laughter.
This day is all about celebrating the idea of friendliness, brotherhood, friendship and, by extension, peace. Laughter, however, is a natural phenomenon that occurs regardless of these aspects. It is also indicative of a state of psychological well-being and is not necessarily caused by comedy or particular actions. Furthermore, it is now known that laughter in company, as well as small daily smiles, are factors and symptoms of good health, both physical and mental―which makes laughter to all intents and purposes an action that science first and foremost suggests should be performed for self-care.
“The benefits of laughter and good mood in general have a solid scientific basis”, explains Professor Salvatore Maria Corsello, endocrinologist and specialist in internal medicine, full professor at UniCamillus University. “Laughter reduces stress while increasing endorphins, real natural painkillers, as well as the production of serotonin and dopamine, substances that increase the feeling of well-being. At the same time it also reduces the production of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.”
Basically, the more one laughs, the more one is in a good mood and the more physical pain is alleviated. It is no coincidence that smile therapy is often used on various hospital wards, not only on paediatric ones. Laughing can even lead to greater productivity at work, because it fosters group bonds, which ease tensions and pressures, leading to facing work problems with more clear thinking.
Laughing also helps improve sleep. Serotonin is in fact a precursor hormone of melatonin, the substance that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. And that’s not all. When we say “laughing heartily”, we are actually not just using figurative language: laughter is also good for blood circulation, as it trains the cardiovascular system to continuously vasodilate. Conversely, negative emotions and, more generally, a bad mood lead the cardiovascular system to vasoconstriction, which in the long run reduces the functionality of the arteries.
In light of the benefits that the body derives from happiness, it can therefore be said that our body functions better if we are happy. “The concept of health should be considered comprehensively as physical and mental health“, Professor Corsello further emphasises. “The two aspects are obviously closely linked. We cannot feel happy if we do not have good physical health. On the other hand, if we are in a good mood, we sleep better, are better inclined to social relationships and physical activity and even have a higher production of T-cells, which are essential in the immune system‘s correct response to infections”. At this point, all that remains is to wish us all a “Good Laugh!”.