A person might ask: is it possible to die from laughter? What other negative aspects might laughing entail?
During the holidays, laughter seems to be everywhere. People are smiling, having fun. Laughter is in the air. But, what are the downfalls?
Despite the many benefits, laughter is not always a pleasant experience. Some negative aspects are associated with expressing intense joy. Although these negativities are relatively rare, they have the possibility of resulting in death.
Excessive laughter can be dangerous. It sometimes leads to cataplexy (sudden physical collapse, though remaining conscious, caused by strong emotion). The upside: negative aspects of laughter often occur in people who are unhealthy or have a medical condition. Eat your vegetables!
In some people, laughter is uncontrollable. Literally. They describe a fit of laughter as a time when they cannot control their body, which sometimes leads to seizures of brief periods of unconsciousness. Some believe that fits of laughter represent a form of epilepsy (sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain).
Death from laughter isn't common by any means, but it does exist. In these rare instances, fits of laughter can cause a cardiac arrest (cessation of function of the heart) or asphyxiation (suffocation or the condition of being deprived of oxygen). Death is never pleasant, but at least these people died with a smile on their faces.
Moral of this story: stay healthy and don't laugh excessively. When laughing, make sure to take breaks in between and catch your breath.
So, although laughter definitely has its perks, beware: it can also lead to death in extreme cases. Happy holidays!
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