“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand,” said Mark Twain. And although this may seem like an exaggeration, laughter helps with more things than people realize.

Obviously laughing is something most people enjoy but it also has many health benefits as well as social and emotional uses.

What can laughter do? According to Care2.com, laughing lowers blood pressure, gives a workout to diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles, reduces stress hormones and increases the response of tumor and disease killing cells. Laughing also protects against respiratory infections, increases memory, learning, alertness, creativity and memory.

The more you laugh, the longer you will live. Laughing prevents heart disease and having a good enduring laugh can give someone up to 45 minutes of relaxed muscles. Laughing relives stress and pain and can put your body in a more comfortable position.

Endorphins are our body’s natural “feel good” chemicals and laughing helps release these chemicals, making people feel naturally happier. Laughing also boosts the body’s immune system by decreasing stress hormones and increasing cells that fight off diseases called antibodies.

And most importantly laughter improves blood vessel functions and escalates blood flow, which helps protect against cardiovascular trouble, especially heart attacks.

Aside from the physical benefits, laughing also helps build relationships with other people.

“When I see someone else laugh, or they laugh at something I say, they instantly seem more approachable,” said sophomore Sarah Conboy.

Many people also agree that laughing makes others more attractive. According to ArtOfSeduction.com, usually among the top five most important things a woman looks for in a man is humor or the ability to laugh. Men put laughing/humor as the third most important thing in a woman’s personality.

When people laugh with others they feel good about themselves. Laughing promotes positive behavior towards other people and creates a bond that keeps people happy.

“If something is really funny during the day I go home and think about it and sometimes even laugh out loud,” said junior Catherine Macowski, “Laughing puts me in a good mood and keeps me in a good mood when I think about the funny thing.”

Laughing is important in every aspect of life, but it may get hard in serious situations. However just because something is serious does not mean you can’t laugh.

During deaths, illnesses and stressful times, doctors remind people how important it is to continue to laugh. Patricia McBroom from UC Berkley tells people to “work through” their pain, anger or sadness with laughter.

Laughing is so important to people that Laughing Yoga is being a popular activity. These classes involve yoga but stress the importance and fun laughing can be.

Laughing is part of everyone’s lives and there is a different type of laugh for every situation. Whether it is an uncontrollable laugh, a nervous laugh, a pity laugh, an awkward laugh, a sarcastic laugh, or even a texting lingo laugh like “LOL” or “ROFL,” everyone benefits from it.

Laughing not only brightens up a moment, but provides life-long benefits that should make someone want to never stop laughing.