The Power of Laughter

For many years, laughter has been known to boost one’s health and mental outlook. Periodically, new research emerges providing even more support for this understanding. A recent study shows that laughter “causes the tissue inside the heart to expand—and increases oxygen flow around the body” (The Guardian, August 27, 2023). More specifically, “Patients with coronary artery disease who engaged in a course of laughter therapy had reduced inflammation and better health.” Laughter therapy was actually shown to increase the “functional capacity” of the cardiovascular system.

After three months of laughter therapy, study participants’ hearts were able to pump 10 percent more blood than those in the control group. In addition, inflammatory markers in the blood of study participants significantly decreased, compared to those in the control group. The elasticity of arteries also increased. This is one of the first studies to take detailed measures of the impact of laughter on heart health compared with a control group.

This new study reinforces the scientific accuracy of the Bible. More than 2,500 years ago God inspired King Solomon to write, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). While the principle of the scripture is clear, we now understand that there is more substance to the statement than one might presume. The study mentioned above provides scientific support for Solomon’s statement. In addition, some have noted that chronic depression increases the risk for osteoporosis—which one might rightly consider a “drying” of the bones. To learn more about health principles found in the Bible, be sure to read our free and insightful booklet Biblical Principles of Health.