笑いの10の健康効果：身体的、精神的、感情的

10 Health Benefits of Laughter: Physical, Mental, Emotional Healthline Health Conditions Health Conditions All Breast Cancer Cancer Care Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Digestive Health Eye Health Heart Health Menopause Mental Health Migraine Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Parkinson’s Disease Psoriasis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Sleep Health Type 2 Diabetes Weight Management Condition Spotlight All Controlling Ulcerative Colitis Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder Mastering Geographic Atrophy Managing Type 2 Diabetes Wellness Wellness Topics All CBD Fitness Healthy Aging Hearing Mental Well-Being Nutrition Parenthood Recipes Sexual Health Skin Care Sleep Health Vitamins and Supplements Women's Wellness Product Reviews All At-Home Testing Men's Health Mental Health Nutrition Sleep Vitamins and Supplements Women's Health Featured Programs All Your Guide to Glucose Health Inflammation and Aging Cold & Flu Season Survival Guide She’s Good for Real Tools Featured Video Series Pill Identifier FindCare Drugs A-Z Medicare Plans by State Lessons All Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Essentials Diabetes Nutrition High Cholesterol Taming Inflammation in Psoriasis Taming Inflammation in Psoriatic Arthritis Newsletters All Anxiety and Depression Digestive Health Heart Health Migraine Nutrition Edition Type 2 Diabetes Wellness Wire Lifestyle Quizzes Find a Diet Find Healthy Snacks Weight Management How Well Do You Sleep? 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Join Bezzy on the web or mobile app. All Inflammatory Bowel Disease Multiple Sclerosis Depression Migraine Type 2 Diabetes Psoriasis Follow us on social media Can't get enough? Connect with us for all things health. Subscribe What Are the Health Benefits of Laughter? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Tess Catlett on August 1, 2025 When you laugh, your body responds in ways that promote healing, relaxation, and resilience. Laughter is more than a spontaneous reaction to something funny. It’s a natural and powerful tool that can support your physical and mental well-being. Whether you’re watching a comedy special, sharing a joke with a friend, or laughing at your own mistakes, the simple act of laughing can provide meaningful health benefits that go far beyond the moment. Boosts immunity Laughter has been shown to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies. This strengthens your immune response and helps protect you from illness. Even a few minutes of genuine laughter can stimulate changes in immune activity that make your body more resistant to disease. Enhances cardiovascular function Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help reduce your risk of heart conditions. When you laugh, your heart rate rises briefly, followed by a period of muscle relaxation and decreased blood pressure. This mirrors the effects of light physical activity and supports better circulation throughout your body. Relieves physical tension and pain Laughter stimulates the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins not only enhance your mood but also act as natural pain relievers. Regular laughter can reduce the perception of pain and increase your tolerance to discomfort. Physically, it also relaxes your muscles, relieving tension long after you’ve stopped laughing. Supports respiratory health When you laugh deeply, you engage your diaphragm and lungs, stimulating oxygen intake and clearing stale air from your lungs. This can be especially beneficial if you spend long periods sitting or taking shallow breaths due to stress or inactivity. A hearty laugh helps you take in oxygen and promotes a more open airway, making it easier to breathe. Provides a light physical workout Laughing can stimulate many of the same systems activated during physical activity. It engages your abdominal muscles, shoulders, and diaphragm and can even increase your heart rate. While it won’t replace a gym session, a bout of laughter can give your body a small workout and support physical activity in a gentle and enjoyable way. Reduces stress and anxiety Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body and increases the production of calming neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These changes can shift your mindset and reduce the mental and emotional weight of stress and anxiety. Laughing during challenging situations helps you gain perspective and feel more grounded, even if the circumstances haven’t changed. Improves mood When you laugh, you feel lighter, happier, and more present. That mood lift isn’t just temporary — it can help reduce symptoms of depression and increase your sense of life satisfaction. Shared laughter can also deepen connection to others, reinforcing your support network and boosting emotional resilience. Strengthens relationships Laughter fosters closeness and trust in relationships. Sharing a genuine laugh with someone builds emotional bonds and encourages openness and vulnerability. Whether you’re laughing with a partner, friend, co-worker, or family member, humor can defuse tension, resolve conflict, and promote empathy. These social connections are vital for your long-term mental health and well-being. Enhances cognitive function Positive emotions, such as those triggered by laughter, can sharpen focus and improve memory. Laughter also encourages mental flexibility and creativity. Laughter reduces stress and increases psychological safety, which can help you approach challenges with a clearer, more adaptive mindset. Promotes emotional resilience When you develop the habit of finding humor in daily life, you build resilience. Laughter helps you stay hopeful and optimistic, even during setbacks. It reminds you that joy and difficulty can exist side by side and gives you a way to cope without feeling overwhelmed. Even when you don’t feel like laughing, the act of smiling or watching something amusing can lead to real laughter. Over time, this practice becomes easier and more natural, and the benefits become more pronounced. The bottom line Laughter is a simple yet powerful form of self-care that supports your body, mind, and relationships. By making space for humor, you create a healthier foundation for coping with stress, deepening social bonds, and improving your quality of life. You don’t need a perfect mood or a special occasion to laugh. Whether it’s a spontaneous giggle or a full belly laugh, every bit counts. How we reviewed this article: Sources History Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy . Funakubo N, et al. (2022). Effects of a laughter program on body weight and mental health among Japanese people with metabolic syndrome risk factors: a randomized controlled trial. https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-022-03038-y Kramer CK, et al. (2023). Laughter as medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies evaluating the impact of spontaneous laughter on cortisol levels. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0286260 Moon H, et al. (2024). Effect of laughter therapy on mood disturbances, pain, and burnout in terminally ill cancer patients and family caregivers. https://journals.lww.com/cancernursingonline/fulltext/2024/01000/effect_of_laughter_therapy_on_mood_disturbances,.2.aspx Qu L, et al. (2025). Effects of laughter therapy on improving physical and psychological symptoms among cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-025-09276-1 Stiwi K, et al. (2022). Efficacy of laughter-inducing interventions in patients with somatic or mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388122000202 Tamada Y, et al. (2022). Does laughing with others lower the risk of functional disability among older Japanese adults? The JAGES prospective cohort study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091743521005181 Share this article Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Tess Catlett on August 1, 2025 related stories Laughing Yoga: What Is It and Does It Work? How to Be Happy: 12 Habits to Add to Your Routine Black Girl Joy: 6 Ways to Heal in a Racially Unjust World Do You Dream in Fear or Joy? The Answer Could Affect Your Morning Mood 13 Uplifting Books for Spring