Laughing

By: Casey

The cackle. The snort. The giggle. The hiss. The snigger. The blast. The chuckle. Laughs are in no way uniform. They are unique, as are the individuals who laugh them. They express eccentricity.

A laugh can be portrayed as a series of unarticulated sounds that are accompanied by distinctive facial and bodily movements. These noises are uncontrollable; they surface with little notification. The act of laughing is the body’s natural reaction to an overwhelming presence of emotions and or stress. Thus, laughs are our body’s natural technique to methodically displace our sentiments: releasing them in the form of sound. We do it often, we do it daily, and we do it virtually subconsciously.

An average person laughs at least four to eight times a day. The myriad essential aspects for a human being to laugh on a daily basis are unknown to the public: laughter causes positive changes in brain chemistry by releasing endorphins, laughter brings more oxygen into the body with deeper inhalations, laughter improves our moods, laughter reduces stress, laughter aids in fighting infection, and laughter minimizes pain. The 1998 movie, Patch Adams, discussed the true story of a maverick doctor who was entirely convinced that fun, play, pleasure, and clowns were the most important components in improving his patients' quality of life within a gloomy hospital ambiance. It is true that those deprived of a healthy dosage of laughter, live their lives sheltered by isolation and depression.

Laughter links us with our peers in a union of positive thoughts. A sequence of short vowel-like syllables, laughter is a language on its own. This “laughter” vocabulary is universally accepted and recognized by people of all cultures and races. Thus, it is of no surprise that laughter is contagious. By introducing laughter into one’s life, one can most likely help others around themselves to laugh more. By elevating the moods of those around you, one can decrease their stress levels, and improve the quality of social interaction they will experience. However, stalwart laughter can sometimes derive an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain. When contagious, high levels of emotional laughter can be dangerous. An extreme case of contagious laughter can be identified in the Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962.

“Triggered by a joke among students at a Tanzania boarding school, young girls began to laugh uncontrollably. At first, there were spurts of laughter, which extended to hours and then days. The victims, virtually all female, suffered pain, fainting, respiratory problems, rashes and crying attacks, all related to the hysterical laughter. Proving the old adage that laughter can be contagious, the epidemic spread to the parents of the students as well as to other schools and surrounding villages. Eighteen months passed before the laughter epidemic ended (Central African Journal of Medicine).”

Laughing relays a sense of comfort and trust. This temporary state of ease soothes and calms. Parents, who listen to the twittery, bubbly giggle of a child, experience an equilibrium of peacefulness. They are beguiled with a feeling of completeness because the delightful sound of children innocently laughing resembles an adolescent accumulation of happiness – reassuring guardians that they are parenting to their fullest potential.



When one laughs, a rush of air inflates the lungs. The rhythmic breathing pattern drastically increases and ones heartbeat begins to dance without reflection. According to numerous studies, laughing approximately 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike. Crisp air sporadically enters through the mouth’s orifice, while carbon dioxide is freely released. The “junk”, carbon dioxide, spews from the body and into the atmosphere along with grunts and voluble clamors. This daily activity may be viewed to some extent as barbaric.

Today’s contemporary world (media and society) has set high standards for its inhabitants: the world’s population, both male and female, is socially expected to abide by these unorthodox values. Many a times, unique laughs are frowned upon. Their authenticity and originality are associated with scorn and embarrassment. Personally, I have been a victim of this prejudice outlook. When surrounded by great company and yummy food, my guard is automatically dropped. Vulnerable to judgment, my emotions prone to roam freely. Occasionally, I have been known to let an obnoxious snort or hoarse groan slip. Emotions are organic and wild. They should not be deemed repulsive when not controlled. But, is laughing really a social facet? Does the general public really judge laughter on its “appearance” versus it imperative importance in our lives?

The truth is, like breathing, laughter is a vital scientific factor of everyday life. Not only does it benefit our health physically, laughing allows us to strengthen our psychological health. The audible expression is an outlet for our emotions and inward feelings of contentment or rage. Without accessing laughter, our bodies would undeniably malfunction. Without a way to formulate and organize our innermost sentiments, our physiological reactions would implode with eradicate explosions. Laughing is not only enjoyable, but a necessity in prospering in a world full of rejection, displeasures, and heartbreaks.