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Many people don't realize all the health benefits that owning a pet can have on one's health. Spending time with a pet can have such a positive impact on your health and overall mood. Basically, you just feel better when you’re around your pet. Why is that? Check out below to find out:
The first and most obvious benefit to having a pet is more than likely it will get you up and moving more. Just the extra “chores” of taking care of a pet is more than likely to get you off of the couch and moving around more, whether its feeding or just playing with the pet. Dog owners have reported exercising more frequently, which leads to an overall healthier life. Dog owners tend to take their pets for walks, sometimes multiple a day and walking is an underrated exercise that can lower your risk for many diseases and help you with weight control. So whether it’s taking your pup on a walk or cleaning out the kitty’s litter box, the more you move the better for your health.
When you pet your cat or dog, it calms you. You can feel your body relax and the tension leaving almost automatically when you sit and love on your pet. It can lower blood pressure, help your body relax, and cut down the stress hormone level. Pets have unconditional love for their people and that companionship is a great stress soother. For a pet, just being in your presence is a great stress soother for them but for many people, pets give us so much more calmness and love in our lives than we could ever give them.
Generally, people that have pets are happier in their lives, less lonely, and even more trusting compared to people without pets. Pets give you a sense of belonging or meaning in your life, which can also make you feel more in control. This can also help keep your vital signs in the normal range, which will keep you healthier. So pets not only improve your quality of life but can also help you live longer.
Pets are a great conversation starter. People who have pets, usually love talking about their pets so it is a great common ground or ice breaker to find. If you have a dog, there are many social activities where you can take your dog and meet people, like dog parks, puppy classes, pet stores, also many outdoor restaurants and bars accommodate dogs now. Even some sports teams now have “dog days” where you can bring your pup to a game. When you have your dog with you, most people feel less social anxiety and dogs are great at breaking you out of your shell. Plus people usually feel much more comfortable coming up to you to talk, if you have a pet with you. In most cases, there is more socialization and much happier people when dogs are present.
One of the biggest signs of depression is feeling like your life has no value or meaning. When you become responsible for another living soul like a pet, it automatically gives your life more value which can really help with breaking out of depression or even preventing it in the first place. Just the simple chores of taking care of a pet will give your life more meaning. There’s not as much time to focus on the negatives in life, especially when you walk in the door and the first thing you usually see is the immense joy your pet has just to see you!
Babies are less likely to get allergies and asthma when they are raised in a home with pets. Of course, it must start early usually in the first 6 months but babies with dogs or cats in the home have fewer colds and ear infections during their first year. It may sound counterintuitive, but since the child is exposed to the allergens early on, children that live in pet-friendly homes are less likely to have animal allergies when they are grown.
Owning a pet can make your heart healthier and make you less likely to get heart disease. First, because dog owners walk more and exercise is great for your heart. Also, pets have been known to lower blood pressure and pulse rate when you sit and love on your pet. Research has even shown that pet owners usually have lower cholesterol levels. How amazing is that!
If you already have heart issues, pets are a really great idea for you, as well! Studies have shown that people with serious abnormal heart rhythms and heart attack survivors who have dogs, live longer than people with heart issues and do not have pets.
So what do you have to lose? If you don’t have a pet already or have been thinking of adding to your pack, go check out your local shelter or rescue. There are so many sweet, deserving souls out there looking for a home. Pets really do give us more love than we could ever return to them. Plus the additional health benefits they offer in our lives, why not add to your family?