A man speaks breathlessly into his phone. “My wife is pregnant. Her contractions are only two minutes apart.”

"Is this her first child?” the doctor asks.

“No, you dimwit. This is her husband!”

If that joke brought a smile to your face or a laugh to your heart, there’s good news: You may now have lower stress, a stronger immune system or even higher self-esteem! Laughter provides a surprising number of health benefits. Today is National Tell a Joke Day, which makes this a great opportunity to learn about the many health benefits of getting a good laugh.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine.” And while laughter may not literally be the best medicine, it can certainly provide some important health perks. For starters, laughing can relieve stress. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, try watching your favorite sitcom or spending time with a funny friend. You’ll be surprised how much of the stress can melt off of you with a few good laughs.

In the long term, laughing has even more benefits. Studies have repeatedly associated laughter with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease. It’s literally good for your heart! Laughing also boosts your immune system. Negative thoughts can manifest themselves in real chemical reactions, bringing more stress into your life and negatively impacting your immune system. So, getting a regular injection of comedy can actually boost your body’s ability to fight off illness while helping to protect your heart from disease.

Furthermore, laughing can also relieve pain. Humor activates the release of endorphins and can relieve muscle tension, which can decrease your pain for a time. When was the last time a medication improved your immune system, helped your heart health, reduced your stress and relieved your pain all while you personally enjoyed taking it?

Humor and laughter can also improve your mental health, as well. Over time, regular laughter can increase your personal satisfaction in life by helping you connect with others and cope with difficult situations. This can also have positive impacts on everything from depression to anxiety to self-esteem. No joke.

So, if you’re feeling particularly dour, stressed or anxious, consider finding ways to add a little levity to your life with an amusing comic strip, poster, greeting card or photo, and put them up on the wall, refrigerator or in a file that you can revisit from time to time when you need a pick-me-up. You can also spend time with family members or friends doing things that make you laugh, whether that’s seeing a funny movie, playing a game you enjoy, doing a fun activity together or just hanging out at a local restaurant or pub.

So go ahead – celebrate National Tell a Joke Day this year by getting out there and telling someone a joke. You’ll be improving both your health and theirs.

Sources:
National Institutes of Health
Mayo Clinic