The last laugh

Many of us remember the adage “laughter is the best medicine”. Turns out, it may just be true.

- DR FRANCES PITSILIS

There is a lot out there designed to make us laugh: TV comedies, jokes and comedy shows. That’s because we love to laugh.

The study of laughter is called gelotology from the Greek word for laughter – gelos.

Laughter is a physical response to something that’s perceived as humorous. There are two parts to this:

1. The set of gestures and the production of sound.

2. The changes that occur in different parts of the body, including the brain and the immune system.

Recent studies suggest that laughter is indeed therapeutic. It’s important to distinguish the physical act of laughing from a feeling of amusement because research has suggested that physical belly laughs are the ones that give you a physiological benefit.

What happens when we laugh?