Crying is a natural response humans have to a variety of emotions, including sadness, pain, joy, and frustration. But does crying have any health benefits?
It is not unusual to cry, and both genders cry more than people can imagine. In the United States, women cry an average of 3.5 times a month and men cry an average of 1.9 times a month.
Interestingly, humans are the only ones who cry tears from an emotional sense. This article explores why we cry and what health benefits crying can have.
Why do we cry?
The tears that our crying possesses can be classified in three ways:
- Basal: The tear ducts constantly secrete basal tears, which are a protein-rich antibacterial fluid that helps keep the eyes moist each time a person blinks.
- Reflection: they are tears caused by irritants such as wind, smoke or onion. They are released to remove these irritants and protect the eye.
- Emotional – Humans shed tears in response to a variety of emotions. These tears contain a higher level of stress hormones than other types of tears.
- When people talk about crying, they are generally referring to emotional tears.
Knowing the benefits of crying
People may try to hold back tears if they see them as a sign of weakness, but science suggests that crying could mean losing a number of benefits.
1. Crying has a calming effect
Crying can help us regulate our own emotions, with a calming effect that will help us reduce your own distress.
A 2014 study found that crying can have a direct and calming effect on people. The study explained how crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which helps people relax.
2. Get the support of others
In addition to helping people calm down, crying can help people gain support from others around them.
As this 2016 study explains , crying is primarily an attachment behavior, gathering support from the people around us. This is known as an interpersonal or social benefit.
3. Helps relieve pain
Research has found that, in addition to being self-calming, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins .
These chemicals make people feel good and can also relieve both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
4. Improves mood
Crying can help lift people’s spirits and make them feel better. In addition to relieving pain, oxytocin and endorphins can help improve mood. That is why they are often referred to as “feel good” chemicals.
5. Releases toxins and relieves stress
When people cry in response to stress, their tears contain a number of stress hormones and other chemicals.
Researchers believe that crying could lower the levels of these chemicals in the body, which in turn could reduce stress. However, more research is needed in this area to confirm this.
6. Helps sleep
A study in 2015 found that crying can help babies sleep better. Whether crying has the same effect on improving sleep in adults has not yet been investigated.
However, it is deduced that the calming effects, which improve mood and relieve pain could contribute to people to have a better rest.
7. Fight bacteria
Crying helps kill bacteria and keep eyes clean, as tears contain a liquid called lysozyme.
A 2011 study found that lysozyme had such powerful antimicrobial properties that it could even help reduce the risks presented by bioterrorist agents, such as anthrax.
8. Improves vision
Basal tears, which are released every time a person blinks, help keep the eyes moist and prevent the mucous membranes from drying out.
As the National Eye Institute explains , the lubricating effect of basal tears helps people see more clearly. When the membranes dry out, vision can become blurry.
9 They help us detoxify the body
The tears that we cry when we are emotional actually have more toxins in them than tears caused by irritation (such as when we cut onions).
Studies have shown that this is because they cleanse the toxins that build up in our bodies when we are stressed.
So, tears not only respond to our negative emotions, but also help us deal with the bad things that are happening inside our body.
10. Improve our vision
When you have some rubbish in your eyes, tears can come out. This is because tears protect your eyes by flushing out anything that may be spoiling your vision.
According to the National Eye Institute , tears also help lubricate your eyes so they don’t dry out, so think about how happy and hydrated they will be after your next good cry.
Being human means having a variety of emotions; crying is absolutely part of it. It’s okay to let it go and indulge in tears from time to time. Do not feel guilty and do not think that by crying you are weak.