1. Crying can actually benefit your wellbeing
Crying isn’t just an emotional response—it may also have physiological benefits. Some studies suggest it helps release oxytocin and endorphins, which can ease emotional distress and physical pain. That said, the effect varies, and frequent criers don’t always feel better afterward.
2. Why does your nose run when you cry?
When you cry, tears don’t only spill from your eyes. Excess liquid drains through tiny tear ducts into the nasal cavity, where it mixes with mucus. This is what causes your nose to become congested or runny during a good cry.
3. Humans produce three distinct types of tears
Your body creates basal tears to keep eyes lubricated, reflex tears to flush out irritants like smoke or dust, and emotional tears that are triggered by feelings such as sadness, stress, or even joy.
4. Tears are made in glands just above the eyes
The lacrimal glands, located just beneath the eyebrows, produce tears. These fluids are a complex mix of water, salts, oils, antibodies, and enzymes, all working together to protect and maintain eye health.
5. Emotional tears contain natural pain-relieving compounds
Unlike other tears, emotional ones carry stress-related hormones and proteins, including leucine-enkephalin—a natural painkiller the body releases in response to discomfort or tension.
6. Babies cry long before they produce visible tears
Although newborns cry frequently, their tear ducts aren’t fully developed. Most babies don’t start producing visible tears until they’re around seven or eight months old.
7. Tear production declines as we get older
As people age, the body produces fewer basal tears, which can lead to dry, irritated eyes. Hormonal changes—such as during pregnancy or menopause—can make this condition more noticeable.
8. People once believed tears came from the heart
In ancient times, tears were thought to originate in the heart. Some early texts even described them as forming when parts of the heart weakened and turned into liquid.
9. Tears help maintain clear vision
A thin, continuous layer of tears coats the surface of your eyes, known as the tear film. This layer smooths out microscopic irregularities on the cornea, allowing light to enter the eye evenly and helping you see clearly. Without it, vision would become distorted or blurry, even if your eyes were otherwise healthy.
10. Onions trigger tears through a chemical reaction
When you cut an onion, it releases a compound called lachrymatory factor synthase, which irritates the eyes. Chilling onions beforehand or using a sharp knife can reduce how much of this chemical is released.
11. Tears can carry subtle biological signals
Scientific studies suggest emotional tears may contain chemosignals. In one experiment, exposure to women’s tears reduced testosterone levels and sexual arousal in men, indicating tears may communicate information on a subconscious level.
12. Tears contain infection-fighting agents
Tears play an important role in protecting your eyes from infection. They contain antimicrobial substances such as lysozyme, an enzyme that can break down the cell walls of harmful bacteria. This built-in defence system helps keep the eyes clean and reduces the risk of infection from everyday exposure to germs.
13. Humans are unique in shedding emotional tears
While many animals produce reflex tears to protect their eyes, humans are the only species known to cry in response to emotions, highlighting the complexity of human emotional and social behaviour.
