Laughter: A powerful medicine for body, mind, and soul

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Scientific studies have shown that spontaneous laughter can significantly reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. For instance, research published in Frontiers in Psychology analysed eight studies with over 300 participants and found that a single session of laughter could lower cortisol levels by up to 36.7%.

In Uganda, however, the science of laughter is still emerging. Prof. Peter Baguma, a psychologist at Makerere University, notes that psychology as a discipline only began to develop in the 1960s and 1970s. “We haven’t done much research on laughter yet,” he says. “But we are eager to explore it, and we are open to conducting studies in this area, though we need funding.”

Despite limited formal research in Uganda, laughter is widely acknowledged as a tool for health and well-being.

Despite limited formal research in Uganda, laughter is widely acknowledged as a tool for health and well-being. (Courtesy photo)

“Laughter is a sign that someone is happy,” explains Baguma. It is an expression of emotions such as joy, triggered when something makes us feel good. Conversely, sadness, anger or stress tend to suppress laughter.

Baguma identifies three main benefits of laughter: physiological, psychological and social.

Physiological benefits

Laughter has tangible effects on the body. It is a stress-buster, releasing tension and lowering stress levels.

According to health experts, it also improves blood circulation by engaging up to 33 facial muscles and the diaphragm, making it a facial exercise.

Baguma adds that laughter boosts the immune system, strengthens the heart, helps muscles perform better and relaxes the body. It can even reduce pain, making discomfort somewhat bearable.

Psychological benefits

Beyond physical health, laughter supports mental well-being. “When you laugh, you feel happy,” Baguma explains. “But laughter also helps with coping. It can make it easier to handle tough situations.” For example, when a car breaks down, one person may react with frustration while another laughs it off. The latter is more likely to remain calm.

Laughter helps build the strength to face life’s challenges, reduces anxiety and depression. It also releases chemicals that make us feel less afraid and hopeful.

In classrooms, humour can transform the learning environment. A lecturer who cracks a joke or laughs with students is more likely to engage them than one who is always stern. “Laughter makes the lecture engaging,” Baguma says. “When a lecturer laughs and cracks jokes, students are more likely to learn better.”

Social benefits

Laughter is social glue. It breaks the ice, makes people approachable and fosters connection. “When you laugh, it makes others feel at ease,” Baguma says. “It shows you are friendly and approachable.”

In professional settings, managers or teachers who use humour create more positive and productive atmospheres as opposed to those who are stern.

People who laugh in social situations tend to form stronger relationships, making it easier to connect with others.

Dr Richard Iwa Idro, a paediatric neurologist, explains that laughter is a natural emotional response that benefits both our mind and body.

He explains that laughter releases endorphins or happy hormones in the brain, which induce relaxation and reduce stress. These hormones help lower cortisol and adrenaline levels, reducing anxiety, calming the heart, and relaxing muscles.

Frequent laughter not only relieves physical tension but also helps in controlling blood pressure, improving sleep, and providing clearer mental focus. The diaphragm and chest muscles relax, allowing better airflow, which is beneficial for respiratory health. “A good laugh has many health benefits,” says Idro, emphasising its importance in promoting overall wellness.

Laughter in African culture

From personal observation, Baguma says Africans laugh more readily than other races. “Africans are almost always laughing, regardless of the situation,” he says.

This tendency to laugh through adversity may explain the resilience of African cultures. Humour often acts as a defence mechanism in tough times. “This cultural trait of laughing through adversity could be one of Africa’s secret advantages,” Baguma adds.

Still, he cautions that laughter must be measured. “Laughing uncontrollably can be inappropriate in certain settings,” he warns. Context matters.

Is laughter always good?

While laughter is generally beneficial, it could signal deep issues in some cases. Conditions such as psychosis or schizophrenia may cause uncontrollable laughter. These conditions are manageable with therapy.

Similarly, substances like laughing gas can trigger uncontrollable laughter.

Recognising when laughter is natural and when it is symptomatic is important.

When laughter is absent

Not everyone finds it easy to laugh. People with conditions such as Moebius syndrome (a rare neurological condition) or facial palsy (paralysis) may struggle to express emotions through facial movements, according to Dr Robert Sebunya, a neurologist.

Health experts explain that such individuals miss out on the physiological, psychological and social benefits of laughter, which can make social interactions challenging.

On the other hand, for some people, laughter is not instinctive. Baguma explains that laughter is a learned behaviour. “If you grow up in an environment not filled with laughter, you are more likely not to laugh,” he says.

Personality, too, has a role to play in the absence of laughter. Introverted individuals may also find it harder to express themselves through laughter than extroverts.

Idro points out that while some people may not laugh openly, they still experience laughter internally, with many expressing it through smiles rather than full-on laughter.

In cases of physical conditions like Moebius syndrome or facial palsy, individuals might not show laughter expressions, but the emotional experience of laughter still exists internally.

Induced Vs. spontaneous laughter

While induced laughter might seem unnatural to some, Idro admits that he has not focused much on it. He prefers natural laughter that arises from real emotions.

Intentionality with laughter

Although laughter is often spontaneous, it can be encouraged intentionally, says Idro.

Surrounding oneself with humorous people or engaging in activities that induce laughter, like watching comedy or playing with children, can trigger these positive effects.

I'm a paediatrician, I enjoy being around children, they make me laugh, and they ask funny questions. Answering them and playing with them is amusing. Generally, play is good, and if you combine it with laughter, even better.

Dr Idro also notes the importance of laughter in the workplace, suggesting that breaks during meetings, physical activities, or simple humorous moments can ease tension and enhance productivity.

In offices, activities such as games or quick walks can be used to incorporate humour, helping teams relax. For those working in more sedentary roles, taking time to stretch and lighten the mood with laughter can improve morale and focus.

Baguma emphasises, laughter is more than a social nicety; it is a natural remedy for stress, anxiety and even physical ailments.

“Laugh in moderation, be mindful of your surroundings and never underestimate the power of a good chuckle,” Baguma advises.

He says creating spaces where laughter thrives is key. At work or home, sharing funny stories, teasing kindly and not taking everything too seriously can encourage laughter.

For Baguma, laughter is a natural antidote to stress. “It is not just good for your soul; it is good for your health, productivity, trust and results in any field of work,” he states. World Laughter Day was observed on the first Sunday of May.

A personal experience with laughter

Dr Hilary Okello, a medical professional and comedian, describes laughter as his “pressure valve.”

“It doesn’t make life easier, but it becomes lighter. It helps me process difficult moments without being overwhelmed. If you can laugh at the difficult moments, you have already taken away half their power,” he says.

Okello finds laughter therapeutic for both himself and his audience. “It’s instant feedback and therapy at the same time. When a room laughs, you can feel the stress lift, not just for the audience, but for me too.”

He encourages people to leave room for imperfection and humour in daily life. “Share stories, tease each other kindly and do not take every small thing too seriously. Sometimes the funniest moments are the unplanned ones. Just be present enough to enjoy them.”

Laughing intentionally

For Ugandan stand-up comedian Cotilda Inapo, laughter isn’t a luxury; it’s survival. “Life is stressful, and sometimes the only way through it is to laugh at it,” she explains.

“Laughter creates a pause. It doesn’t remove your problems, but it makes them easier to carry. That small reset can make all the difference.”

Inapo observes this transformation often during her shows. “People come in tired and heavy, but after laughing, something shifts. Same life, lighter heart,” she says.

Laughter, she believes, also fosters connection. “The things we hide or feel alone in suddenly become shared, and somehow, less serious.”

If you want more laughter in your life, Inapo encourages intentionality. “Don’t wait for perfect moments. They don’t come. Watch comedy, follow funny people, listen to stand-up, share jokes with friends.” She adds, “Expose yourself to humour. Watch it, listen to it, share it. The more you feed laughter, the more it grows.”

Inapo also stresses the importance of relaxation. “Don’t take yourself so seriously; some things are genuinely just funny.” She advises, “Choose your people wisely. Some drain you, while others remind you to breathe and laugh. Stay close to the second group.”

For Inapo, laughter is relief, connection, and perspective, all in one. “And honestly, we need that,” she impassions.

Laughter in children

Children begin to laugh even before birth. Dr Elizabeth Kutamba Akankunda, a paediatrician, says babies can begin laughing in the womb, with reflexes appearing between 16 to 20 weeks of gestation. After birth, babies typically start laughing around three to four months.

“By two months, babies recognise their mother’s face and smile, and by three to four months, they start socially responding,” explains Akankunda. At this stage, their brains start releasing endorphins in response to humour, leading to relaxation and pleasure.

Akankunda explains that laughter in children, driven by the release of happy hormones, is a reflex initiated by the brain.

At different developmental stages, babies respond to different types of humour. Akankunda suggests that parents can foster this laughter by engaging with their children through playful activities, making funny faces, tickling, and games like peek-a-boo, as well as hide and seek.

This early laughter is essential for developing social bonds and cognitive functions. As children grow, they develop a more complex sense of humour and can engage in simple jokes and imaginative play.

Encouraging laughter in children

“Creating an environment that fosters laughter is key, says Akankunda. During pregnancy, parents can talk to their baby bump, play music, or engage in activities that reduce stress, which enhances the bonding experience.

After birth, engaging in silly behaviour, such as making funny faces and sounds or playing peek-a-boo, can encourage laughter. As children grow, their sense of humour evolves.

From six months, they enjoy smiling at faces; by one to two years, they start enjoying simple jokes and running around. Each stage provides new opportunities for parents to engage in ways that promote laughter.

Can a child fail to laugh?

For every child, laughing is a natural reflex; we are all wired the same, explains Akankunda.

“We have the same cortisol, we have the same dopamine, the brain is the same, the hypothalamus (a small area in the centre of the brain that produces hormones that regulate heart rate, body temperature, hunger, and the sleep-wake cycle, the pituitary gland, the diaphragm, and the vocal cords. What is different is how we are stimulated, the enabling environment,” she says.

“If a child is always with parents who are never playful, they will not learn, kind of suppressing their happy emotions. So, that would be dominant, because of the stressful environment, they express stressful emotions. But there is nothing like a child cannot smile and laugh.”

Even the so-called strict or hard-hearted people, when you stimulate them and provide the right environment, they will laugh.

Benefits of laughter for children

Laughter boosts a child’s immune system, reduces stress, and fosters social connections. “When children laugh, they release antibodies that strengthen their immune system,” explains Akankunda.

Laughter also lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, which can improve children’s mood and social skills.

Akankunda explains that children who laugh regularly tend to bond more easily with others and learn better. When children are happy and relaxed, their cognitive abilities improve. They are more focused, learn better, and improve their memory.

Conversely, children who are unhappy or stressed may struggle with learning and emotional regulation.

Why laughing is essential for children’s well-being

Betty Nakibuuka Izizinga, a peadiatric nurse, emphasises that children, like adults, need laughter every day for their emotional, social, and physical well-being.

“Laughter helps children build self-esteem, optimism, and strong social bonds. It also promotes healthy physical growth,” she says. Laughter gives children a good night’s sleep by relaxing their muscles and relieving stress.

Izizinga highlights that children laugh 300-400 times a day, while adults only laugh 15 times. Laughter, she explains, can be a powerful remedy for conditions like depression and anxiety in children. “We must create a joyful atmosphere, engage in physical play, and encourage humour to help children grow and thrive.”