The Power of Laughter:

Why It Helps Doctors and Patients Connect

Going to the doctor or hospital can feel scary. Whether you’re there for a check-up or staying for a while, it’s normal to feel nervous or anxious prior to seeing your healthcare provider. But what if something as simple as a laugh could help?

Laughter is more than just fun. It can help people feel better, even in tough times. Doctors and nurses know that laughter is a great way to build trust and make patients feel safe.

Let’s look at why laughter is so important when meeting a healthcare provider for the first time.

Laughter Helps People Feel Comfortable

When you’re sick or in pain, you may feel scared, sad, or confused. Meeting a new doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional can make you feel even more nervous. But if that doctor makes a friendly joke or smiles and laughs with you, it can help you relax and put you at ease.

Laughter can make a scary place feel a little more normal. It tells your brain, “Hey, it’s okay. This person cares about me.”

Even just a light chuckle can make a big difference. You might think, “They’re not just a doctor — they’re a person, too.”

Laughter Builds Trust

Before a healthcare provider can help you, they need you to trust them. Trust is very important in healthcare. You are more likely to talk about how you really feel if you trust your doctor.

If a healthcare provider shares a laugh with you, it shows they’re kind and easy to talk to. You might be more open and honest, which helps them give you the best care.

This is true whether you’re visiting the healthcare provider once (like in an outpatient clinic) or staying in the hospital (like an inpatient). In both places, laughter helps start a good relationship.

Laughter Can Make People Feel Less Pain

Did you know that laughing can actually help your body feel better? When you laugh, your body releases feel-good chemicals called “endorphins.” These chemicals help lower stress and pain.

Some studies show that people who laugh more may need less medicine to feel better. They may even heal faster!

Of course, laughter doesn’t replace real medical treatment. But it can be a helpful part of the healing process.

Laughter Makes the Health Provider’s Job Easier, Too

Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals are thrust into many challenging scenarios every day. They work long hours and help many people who are sick and/or in pain.

When patients laugh with them, it can lift the health professional’s mood, too. It reminds them why they chose this job — to help people feel better: Body, Heart, and Soul.

A smiling patient often means a better day for the healthcare team.

Laughter Must Be Kind and Respectful

It’s important to remember that laughter should never hurt someone’s feelings. Healthcare professionals should only use humor that is gentle and kind. Jokes about a person’s pain, illness, or fears are never okay.

Good healthcare professionals pay attention to their patients. If someone is too tired, sad, or sick to laugh, that’s okay. The most important thing is to be kind and understanding.

Real-Life Example

Imagine this:

A young boy goes to the hospital with a broken arm. He’s scared and doesn’t want to talk. The doctor walks in, gently checks the arm, and says with a smile, “Well, I see someone’s been practicing to be a superhero — just maybe without the landing skills!”

The boy giggles. He starts to relax. Suddenly, the hospital doesn’t seem so scary. He talks more, listens better, and even smiles during the check-up.

That small joke didn’t fix the arm — but it helped build trust. And that trust made the boy’s care much easier.

Final Thoughts

Laughter is not just for fun. It is a powerful tool that helps doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals, and patients feel closer, safer, and more comfortable. In both clinics and hospitals, a little laughter at the beginning can make a big difference in care.

So, the next time you visit your provider and share a laugh, remember — it’s not just a joke. It’s part of healing.

Supporting Articles:

1.      Manninen S, Tuominen L, Dunbar RI, et al. Social Laughter Triggers Endogenous Opioid Release in Humans. J Neurosci. 2017;37(25):6125-6131. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0688-16.2017

2.      Buiting HM, de Bree R, Brom L, Mack JW, van den Brekel MWM. Humour and laughing in patients with prolonged incurable cancer: an ethnographic study in a comprehensive cancer centre. Qual Life Res. 2020;29(9):2425-2434. doi:10.1007/s11136-020-02490-w

3.      Phillips KA, Singh Ospina N, Rodriguez-Gutierrez R, et al. Humor During Clinical Practice: Analysis of Recorded Clinical Encounters. J Am Board Fam Med. 2018;31(2):270-278. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170313