“Laughter is the best medicine.”
It’s not just a saying backed by comedians. Turns out, it’s true.
There’s a growing body of research supporting the idea that laughing unleashes a flood of positive benefits—from stress reduction, immune system boost, and pain relief, to stimulating the organs like lungs, heart, brain, and muscles.
So, if we’re literally saying that a good feeling results in benefits to the body, do negative feelings cause it harm?
The connections between emotions and health, that’s what we are going to explore in this post. Let’s look at the positives first.
Positive Emotions & Their Effects
On the whole, positive, “feel good” emotions like joy, gratitude, happiness, peace, and contentment do bring benefits to health:
#1 Immune System Enhancement
Research has shown that positive emotions can boost immune cells' activity, increase antibody production, and even improve immune response to vaccines. This enhanced immune function contributes to better health through the defense against pathogens, reduced inflammation, and improved overall well-being.
Having positive emotions, in short, prevents us from getting sick.
#2 Longevity and Aging
Being in a positive emotional state has been linked to increased longevity and healthy aging. Research suggests that individuals who experience more positive emotions tend to live longer and have a reduced risk of age-related diseases. Positive emotions have been associated with slower cellular aging, longer telomeres, and improved overall physiological resilience to the aging process.
#3 Enhanced Cognitive Functions
Research has shown, for example, that positive emotion enhances cognitive flexibility, allowing people to think more clearly and broadly about a problem. These states have also been linked to greater creativity, which allows individuals to think outside the box when approaching a task.
#4 A general increase in vitality
An upbeat emotional and mental state leads to a broad range of benefits:
lower blood pressure
lower risk for heart disease
lower blood sugar
lower weight
When we are happy, joyful, and grateful, the body releases a potent concoction of chemicals, neurotransmitters, and hormones that promote well-being. Some of these include:
Chemical Culprits of “Happiness”
Endorphins
They act as natural painkillers and mood boosters, that reduce anxiety.
Endorphins are produced in the brain’s pituitary gland and hypothalamus and have been known to ease depression, improve self-image, alleviate stress & anxiety, regulate appetite, and lessen the pain of childbirth.
When pain signals (from the other parts of the body) are sent to the brain, the brain releases endorphins to block the nerve cells from receiving the signals, essentially turning off pain reception.
And, the exhilaration you feel after you’ve just had a good run, swim, hike, or any form of physical activity is attributed to the flush of endorphins in your brain. It’s also the same feeling after indulging in a piece of dark chocolate or laughing at a good comedy or even performing an act of kindness.
All these things are good for one’s well-being and health.
Dopamine
When you feel a sense of pleasure and achievement, that’s dopamine flooding the brain. It’s another molecule in the body called “The Happy Chemical.”
It gives you a feeling of euphoria and keeps you motivated, alert, and focused.
But besides its “feel-good” functions, dopamine is also involved in a number of biological processes, such as:
digestion
motor control
sleep
insulin regulation
blood flow
kidney function
heart function
pancreatic function
By being in a good mental state, we ensure a good dose of dopamine. Otherwise, we suffer from poor body coordination, reduced alertness and motivation, and even Parkinson’s Disease and psychosis.
Serotonin
Serotonin is another one of those mood-boosting molecules, about 90% of which is found in the lining of the gut (with the remaining 10% found in the brain).
As a “feel good” chemical, serotonin helps us become emotionally stable and calm. And like dopamine, it has a vast array of other functions related to:
digestion
bone health
blood clotting
sex
sleep
A body low on serotonin may cause a host of diseases and conditions:
depression
sleep deprivation
digestive disorders
stress disorders
schizophrenia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Besides being in a positive emotional state, other ways to increase serotonin levels includes exercise, getting enough sunlight, and eating food rich in tryptophan (eg. Nuts, eggs, salmon, cheese, pineapples, etc.)
On the whole, positive emotions not only have immediate effects on well-being but can also have long-term benefits. They promote resilience, enhance coping mechanisms, and help individuals bounce back from adversity more effectively.
Positivity improves cognitive functioning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. It strengthens social connections and relationships, which are essential for overall life satisfaction.
Negative Emotions & Their Effects
As humans, it’s normal to feel bad. It’s all part of the human condition. But long-term, and consistent negativity like anger, sadness, stress, anxiety, fear, etc. can ultimately be detrimental to health.
And the more we learn about the human body, the more we know of the biological connections between our emotions and health.
Here are some effects of negative emotions on the body:
#1 Immune System Dysregulation
Negative thoughts and feelings can compromise our body’s ability to defend itself against pathogens. For example, chronic stress can disrupt the highly coordinated responses of the immune system. It can also lead to decreased production of important cells that defend against pathogens. Chronic stress and other negative emotions can even lead to autoimmune diseases.
#2 Digestive Distress
Negative states can disrupt the balance of microbes that line the gut. These microorganisms play various functions, beyond their obvious roles in digestion and nutrient absorption. They also have active roles in mood regulation, brain function, compound synthesis, and immune system regulation.
Chronic negative emotions can impair digestion, and lead to gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, ulcers, dyspepsia, etc.
#3 Cardiovascular Damage
The cardiovascular system is highly susceptible to the detrimental effects of negative thoughts. Emotional stress can lead to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and constriction of blood vessels. Prolonged exposure to these conditions can contribute to the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
#4 Accelerated Aging
Negativity doesn’t just age the body through hair loss, dry skin, and brittle bones. It operates on the cellular and genetic levels.
There are specialized structures found at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. The length of these structures essentially limits the number of times a cell can replicate.
Telomeres naturally shorten with age. However, chronic stress and negative emotions can accelerate this shortening process, potentially leading to an increased risk of age-related diseases and premature aging.
Research has increasingly highlighted the profound impact of negative emotions on the body, revealing a complex web of biological interactions.
For example, chronic levels of stress lead to high levels of cortisol in the body. This in turn leads to a broad range of harmful effects, like:
headaches
muscle tension
pain
memory impairment
heart disease
stroke
anxiety
depression etc.
Our emotions, whether they are positive or negative, have a significant impact on our health. The general rule is that positive emotions like joy, gratitude, peace, and exhilaration also have a positive impact on the body. Negative states like sadness, anger, and stress have a negative impact on the body.
So, if we think about it, emotions are a good signal as to the state of our health or where it is headed.
Another way to know the status of your health is through a general check-up.
BloodWorks Labs offer check-up packages that are tailored to your specific needs. And, in addition to looking at your blood sugar levels and lipid profile, we have a wide array of medical screenings and blood tests. We are your one-stop shop for all your blood test needs.
BloodWorks Labs was the first in the country to introduce the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.
Book your appointment today. You’ll be happy you did!
Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.