# Does laughing have health benefits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 5, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963 "2002-04-05T07:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hiyruu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/1 "2002-04-05T07:59:25Z")
I have often heard variations of “laughter is the best medicine”, and other similar phrases in conversation. My question is wether laughter does in fact have health benefits? I was reading somewhere about these groups who tried to make eachother laugh for this reason. One successful method was to seat two people opposite eachother in a room, and to have them stare at eachother in the eyes and try to out-whistle eachother face to face. I tried this with some friends and found that it always produced genuine laughs. Funny stuff. 😛 Anyway, even if we can produce genuine laughs like with the whistling method, will this have any measurable benefits for the body? ---
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/2 "2002-04-06T00:41:23Z")
[Some](http://www.globalideasbank.org/crespec/CS-93.HTML) [people](http://www.stockphotos.com/laugh/) think so. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/3 "2002-04-06T03:01:41Z")
Omigod! Just looking at some of those laughing people on the 2nd link really made me laugh! Thanks!🙂 More: [http://www.laughteryoga.org/health.htm](http://www.laughteryoga.org/health.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/4 "2002-04-06T07:02:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Speaking at an American Heart Association Conference in New Orleans, Dr Miller suggested that doctors should perhaps consider “prescribing” [**laughter**.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1024000/1024713.stm) > [@](#): > > we’ll look at laughter – what it is, what happens in our brains when we laugh, what makes us laugh and how it can make us healthier and happier. You’ll also learn that there’s a tremendous amount that no one understands [**yet!**](http://www.howstuffworks.com/laughter.htm) > [@](#): > > "Together we can lead the world to health, happiness, and peace through [**laughter!**](http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Hiyruu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/5 "2002-04-06T07:04:19Z")
Great links guys, this really deserves furthur research. ---
**Author:** ![Hiyruu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-laughing-have-health-benefits/101963/6 "2002-04-06T07:09:53Z")
I like this passage: > [@](#): > > Strengthens the Immune System: Our immune system plays a most important role in keeping good health and keeping away infections, allergies and cancers. It has been proved by psychoneuroimmunologists that all negative emotions like anxiety, depression or anger weaken the immune system of the body, thereby reducing its fighting capacity against infections. According to Dr. Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University, California, USA, laughter helps to increase the count of natural killer cells (NK cells - a type of white cell) and also raises the antibody levels. Researchers have found that after laughter therapy there is an increase in antibodies (Immunoglobulin A) in the mucous on of the nose and respiratory passages, which is believed to have protective capacity against some viruses, bacteria and other micro organisms. There are many members of Laughter Clubs who have noticed that the frequency of common colds, sore throats and chest infections has decreased. The effect of laughter on our immune system is considered to be very significant in regard to deadly disease like AIDS and Cancer. From here: [http://www.laughteryoga.org/health.htm](http://www.laughteryoga.org/health.htm)