Laughter is Therapeutic

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” But did you know that this isn’t just feel-good fluff? Norman Cousins, former editor of The Saturday Review, brought this idea to the forefront in his groundbreaking 1979 book, Anatomy of an Illness. 

Faced with a painful degenerative condition and grim odds of recovery, Cousins took his healing into his own hands—with humor.

He created his own laughter therapy, watching classic comedies like Candid Camera, The Three Stooges, and The Marx Brothers. 

The results were remarkable: not only did his pain decrease, but he credited laughter as a significant part of his remission.

Cousins’ personal experiment was so compelling that it was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Although many in the medical community were initially skeptical, researchers began to take note. In the 1980s, preventive care specialist Dr. Lee Berk led studies showing that laughter reduces stress hormones and supports immune function. The science was catching up to the smiles.

Then in 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria of Mumbai took it a step further with the creation of the first Laughter Yoga club. His practice, which combines deep breathing, clapping, and playful group exercises, quickly went global. Thousands of laughter yoga clubs exist today, encouraging people to laugh—not just as a reaction, but as a practice.

I experienced this firsthand during a Laughter Yoga class I stumbled into while on vacation. At first, I was hesitant. The idea of forced laughter felt, well, kind of ridiculous. But after a few deep breaths and shared silly “hee hee, ha ha ha” chants with a group of strangers, something shifted. We ended up in real, full-belly laughter—and I walked away feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected.

This experience reminded me of something easy to forget when managing a chronic condition like bronchiectasis: healing isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you feel while doing it.
For those of us living with bronchiectasis, the day-to-day can become consumed by managing symptoms--airway clearance routines, staying on top of medications, navigating fatigue, and trying to keep inflammation and infections at bay. Add to that the ongoing effort of staying active and eating well, and the weight of it all can start to dull our joy.

That’s why balance is so critical.

Yes, airway clearance is essential—it keeps our lungs moving and helps prevent exacerbations. Exercise builds respiratory strength and endurance, and healthy cooking fuels our bodies with nutrients that support immunity and recovery. But just as vital is making room for stress reduction and, yes, even fun. Laughter, relaxation, and shared joy aren’t extra—they’re therapeutic.

The Mayo Clinic backs this up, noting that laughter reduces stress, soothes tension, improves mood, and even boosts immunity. And for people with bronchiectasis, every bit of stress relief counts. Chronic stress can compromise immune function, increase inflammation, and make symptoms feel heavier.
So, what does this look like in real life?
It might be building a weekly rhythm that includes:

• Your airway clearance routine in the morning,
  
  
• A walk or gentle yoga session in the afternoon,
  
  
• A delicious, nourishing meal you enjoy cooking (or even prepping with a friend),
  
  
• And a daily dose of something that brings you pure, unfiltered joy- for me it's putting on music with a strong beat and dancing. Take a look at my YouTube Channel playlist on Laughter and Fun to see how I get down!
  
  

Maybe that’s watching a favorite comedy, sharing a laugh with a loved one, joining a Laughter Yoga group, or just being silly with your pet.

When we frame laughter and joy as part of our self-care, not a distraction from it, we begin to feel whole again—not just as people with a diagnosis, but as full human beings who need connection, levity, and balance.

So today, let’s not only commit to our health routines—but also to our happiness. Whether it’s a belly laugh or a gentle chuckle, may you find a moment of joy and let it breathe new life into your lungs.