Laugh your way to health: Why faking it might be the best medicine

Ever caught yourself giggling at a cat video—or forcing a snort when your boss made a dad joke? Turns out, that fleeting burst of amusement is doing way more for you than just brightening your day.

Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of gelotology: the science of laughter. Yes, it's a real thing, and yes, it might just save your heart (literally).

Modern research suggests that laughing just two to five times a week can release nitric oxide in your blood, opening up vessels like a tiny internal traffic cop, lowering blood pressure, inflammation, and cholesterol, says the Independent UK.

Bonus: your immune system gets a boost, endorphins are unleashed, and your body's natural painkillers kick in. Basically, laughing is like hitting the gym without changing out of your pajamas.

Enter laughter yoga, pioneered by Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995. This isn't your grandma's gentle yoga class. Think more along the lines of "fake it till you make it"—silly gestures, rhythmic breathing, and eye-to-eye 'ha' marathons. Melanin Bee, creator of the Laughasté routine, swears by it: even if you don't feel funny, the body doesn't care. You move, you exhale, you laugh.

Here's the fun twist: forced laughter can actually be better than spontaneous laughter. Why? Because you can sustain it for 30–45 minutes without waiting for a joke to land. Cancer patients, people battling depression, or anyone who simply woke up on the wrong side of the humor bed can benefit just as much as the naturally giggly.

Other perks include lowering stress hormones like cortisol, reducing glucose levels, and boosting mood and mobility in older adults. Techniques range from absurdly simple—staring into a friend's eyes while chanting "ha" for a full minute—to delightfully ridiculous, like practicing "credit card bill laughter." (Yes, pretend your overdue statements are a joke. Weird, but effective.)

Think of laughter yoga like an old-fashioned water pump. At first, it takes effort—awkward, jerky, almost silly movements—but once you get the rhythm, genuine laughter gushes out like a fountain you didn't know you had.

So next time life feels stressful, consider skipping the green smoothie and trying a full-blown, eye-contact, ha-ha-ha session. Your heart, immune system, and mood will thank you.