Who would have thought that laughter can be good for our health and wellbeing? In a recent talk at our university on this very topic, Dr Sunthar, a Malaysian living in Chicago, the United States, shared with us interesting anecdotes about laughter. It was news to me that one could do a PhD on laughter. Dr Sunthar is living proof of that. He did his research on laughter and humour in India. He is not alone.
There are many PhD holders around the world who studied laughter for their doctorate. Now he is a sought-after speaker in many countries. He has been booked for a function in Japan next month. He has been invited for a talk on laughter later in the year in one South American country. This former student of Victoria Institution now travels the world to share his knowledge on laughter.
UCSI university is lucky to have him deliver this rather unusual talk.I remember many years ago that Reader's Digest was a popular magazine here. I am not sure why they have stopped publishing it. But ardent readers of the magazine must remember the column "Laughter is the Best Medicine”. The jokes shared through that column were truly hilarious.
Many must have used them in their public speaking engagements. We were told that Americans are fond of using jokes to liven up their speeches. But not all work because telling jokes is an art. The lines may be similar. But if one is not adept at telling jokes, the outcome may even be disastrous. And if your jokes fall flat, your entire presentation is ruined. Different cultures have different takes on laughter. The Germans, for example, do not laugh as much as others.
The Japanese are also more serious. That may be the reason why they are more hardworking. But both the Germans and Japanese value humour as a way to bond with others. So much so that in Germany, there is a school which offers courses on how to be humorous. Many are known to be taking them.
So can laughter be therapeutic? Laughter is often said to be the best medicine due to its various physical and psychological benefits. While it may not literally cure illnesses, laughter can contribute to overall wellbeing in several ways. Stress reduction is one. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals.
This helps reduce stress and promote a sense of wellbeing. Studies have shown that positive thoughts and laughter can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. Laughter may also ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Laughter also has cardiovascular benefits. It improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect against heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.
Mental health, a hot topic nowadays, can also benefit from laughter. Laughter can improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and make it easier to cope with difficult situations. A few of our top psychologists at the talk also agreed. While laughter is beneficial, it should complement other forms of treatment and a healthy lifestyle. It’s not a replacement for medical care but can be a valuable addition to overall wellness. Some suggest there should be more studies on laughter.
I know for sure laughter is contagious. I have witnessed occasions when people would just join in to laugh when there is one among them who would start doing so loud enough.During my days travelling in India, I did come across a laughter group operating in Mumbai. They would meet on most weekends on the beach and start laughing. They claim such exercise did them good.
There was a comment during the talk that maybe our education system is not very conducive when it comes to creating a population which laughs more rather than sulks. We definitely need more humour.
PROF DATUK DR AHMAD IBRAHIM
Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy
IISDS, UCSI University
