Very recently the iconic, hilarious and sometimes controversial Joan Rivers passed away at the age of 81. One lesson she taught the world was the importance of laughter.

“Laugh and the world laughs with you.” Or even better, laugh and you’ll live longer.

Sven Svebak, of the medical school at Norwegian University, states that people with a sense of humor outlive those who don’t find the humor and funny little things in life. Svebak conducted a study that consisted of around 54.000 Norwegians, who he tracked over the span of seven years.

At the beginning of the study, he asked the participants to fill out a questionnaire on how easily they find the humor in everyday situations, and how essential a humorous outlook on life is. 

The results were quite fascinating: The greater the role humor played in their life, the greater their chance of surviving became. Participants that scored in the top 25% percentile for appreicating humor had 35% more chance to be alive compared to the participants who scored in the lower 25% percentile.

Past research has revealed that humor helps raise the immune system and help people deal with stress.

“Humor works like a shock absorber in a car,” Svebak says. “You appreciate a good shock absorber when you go over bumps,” like cancer, he continued to explain.

Therefore, always try to stay positive and try to see the funny things in life.

RIP Joan Rivers.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-03-11-health-laughter_N.htm