“What’s your favorite cocktail?”
A question like this is usually asked at a dinner party, a weekend getaway, or maybe as an icebreaker in a group setting. But I wasn’t making small talk over drinks—I was standing at the bedside of a nervous 22-year-old woman awaiting her first surgery.
Emma was scheduled for an appendectomy. Her chart showed textbook symptoms, but her body language revealed something no lab test could measure: pure terror. After explaining the procedure, I noticed her white-knuckle grip on the bed rail and decided to try a different approach.
“What’s your favorite cocktail?” I asked.
Startled by this unexpected question, she hesitated before answering, “Rum punch.”
“Well, we don’t have that on our menu,” I replied, “but we do offer a specialty drink called ‘Vein Champagne’—a nickname for the medication that’ll help you relax before surgery.”
Her nervous laughter broke the tension. Her shoulders relaxed, and for the first time since admission, she made eye contact without that deer-in-headlights look. That small moment of levity didn’t just make her feel better—it created space for her to ask questions she had been too anxious to voice.
This interaction reflects what research consistently demonstrates: humor in medicine isn’t frivolous—it’s functional. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins (1), the body’s natural painkillers. It also stimulates circulation (2), temporarily increasing heart rate and improving vascular function—so yes, you can pat yourself on the back for a little cardiovascular exercise, even if you haven’t stepped foot in a gym lately.
Beyond its physiological benefits, humor is a powerful emotional tool. It reduces anxiety, boosts mood, and helps patients cope with distressing situations. A study published in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that humor appears in nearly 60% (3) of patient encounters, particularly when discussing diagnoses, treatments, and other weighty topics—precisely when patients need emotional support most.
Building Trust Through Laughter
The impact of humor extends beyond momentary relief. Research consistently shows that patients perceive physicians who use humor as more trustworthy and these doctors receive higher patient satisfaction scores (4). A well-placed joke or lighthearted remark signals that the doctor sees them as more than just a case number or a set of symptoms.
In Emma’s case, our brief exchange about “Vein Champagne” wasn’t just a distraction—it was a bridge. It helped her trust me enough to admit she was worried about post-surgical pain, a concern she had previously been too embarrassed to mention.
This trust-building function of humor isn’t new. In the 14th century, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville advised his colleagues to “regulate the whole regimen of the patient’s life for joy and happiness… by having someone tell him jokes.” Martin Luther, centuries later, suggested that those struggling with depression should seek out friends who make them laugh rather than isolating themselves.
These historical figures understood intuitively what modern research confirms: humor fosters connection, and connection facilitates healing.
Reframing Our Understanding of Humor
But to fully harness humor’s power in medicine, we need to redefine what it means. Too often, when people hear the word “humor,” they think of stand-up comedians, elaborate punchlines, or trying to be funny. But that’s not the goal.
Most of us aren’t natural comedians, and we’ve all experienced the secondhand embarrassment of someone trying too hard to be funny. That’s not what humor in medicine should be.
Instead, we should think of humor as levity—lighthearted conversation that acknowledges our shared humanity. It’s the brief chat about a patient’s grandchildren before discussing their diabetes management. It’s the self-deprecating quip that breaks the tension in an otherwise intimidating clinical encounter. It’s the smile that says, “Yes, this is difficult, but we’re in it together.”
And levity isn’t just for patients.
A Tool for Resilience in Healthcare
For healthcare providers, humor serves another crucial function: resilience.
Medicine is emotionally and physically demanding. Whether delivering difficult diagnoses, making split-second decisions in emergencies, or dealing with the slow burn of bureaucratic and departmental inefficiencies, the weight of the job can be overwhelming. It’s no wonder that nearly 50% of doctors are burnt out (5).
Levity offers a pressure release valve. A shared laugh between colleagues after a grueling shift can be a lifeline, a small but meaningful way to decompress. It’s not about making light of serious situations but about preserving our humanity in a profession where emotional exhaustion is an occupational hazard.
I saw this firsthand in medical school—not just in the hospital, but in the long nights of studying. I spent countless hours memorizing biochemical pathways, cranial nerves, and drug interactions. In my delirium, I started making up ridiculous songs to lighten my mood and to help me remember them. And the wild thing? They worked. The songs stuck. Years later, I still recall some of them—and they still make me laugh.
This wasn’t just a study trick. It was a survival mechanism, a way to inject joy into an otherwise grueling process.
The Fine Line: When Humor Isn’t Appropriate
Of course, humor in medicine comes with responsibilities. Used poorly, it can seem dismissive or even offensive. Some patients may not appreciate humor when they’re in distress, and not every situation calls for levity.
A good rule of thumb? Humor should never come at the expense of the patient. It should never trivialize suffering, nor should it mask discomfort in difficult conversations. Instead, it should serve as a bridge to help lighten the moment without overshadowing the gravity of the care we provide.
Prescribing Levity
As medical professionals, we’re trained to address physical symptoms with evidence-based interventions. Yet we sometimes overlook humor (or levity) as one of the most accessible treatments available.
Humor isn’t about telling jokes or being the funniest person in the room. It’s about creating connection, easing anxiety, and reminding both patients and providers that medicine is, at its core, a profoundly human endeavor.
So the next time you’re with a patient, consider prescribing a small dose of levity. You don’t need to be funny—you just need to be human. That shared moment of lightness might be exactly what your patient needs to face the heaviness of illness.
And if nothing else, you’ll both get a little cardiovascular exercise.
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For a helpful guide on how to use humor in clinical settings, feel free to read this article (6) from the AMA Journal of Ethics!
References
- Yim J. Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2016 Jul;239(3):243-9. doi: 10.1620/tjem.239.243. PMID: 27439375.
- Savage BM, et al. Humor, laughter, learning, and health! A brief review. Advances in Physiology Education. 2017; doi:10.1152/advan.00030.2017.
- Phillips KA, Singh Ospina N, Rodriguez-Gutierrez R, Castaneda-Guarderas A, Gionfriddo MR, Branda M, Montori V. Humor During Clinical Practice: Analysis of Recorded Clinical Encounters. J Am Board Fam Med. 2018 Mar-Apr;31(2):270-278. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170313. PMID: 29535244.
- Sala, F., Krupat, E., & Roter, D. (2002). Satisfaction and the Use of Humor by Physicians and Patients. Psychology & Health, 17(3), 269–280, https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440290029520.
- Berg, Sara. “Physician Burnout Rate Drops below 50% for First Time in 4 Years.” American Medical Association, 2 July 2024, www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/physician-burnout-rate-drops-below-50-first-time-4-years.
- AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(7):E588-595. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2020.588, https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/how-use-humor-clinical-settings/2020-07.
Chikodi Ohaya is a member of The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Class of 2026. She graduated from California Lutheran University with a degree in Biology. She is a first-generation Nigerian immigrant and a former teacher who is proficient in American Sign Language. Chikodi is also passionate about health disparities and photography and enjoys road trips to scenic destinations.