They can be endlessly entertaining and wonderful companions, but there’s a large body of evidence to suggest that pets might offer important health benefits, too. When you come home, they greet you with yelps and licks. When you lie on the couch, they curl up at your feet (or, you know, right on your chest). They can be endlessly entertaining and wonderful companions, but there’s a large body of evidence to suggest that pets might offer really important benefits for your health, too.
If you’re considering adding a furry member to your family, here are some of the greatest advantages of being a pet owner:
They reduce stress and anxiety
Having an animal at home can help to ease the stress we all experience on a daily basis. Taking the time out of your day to throw a stick for your dog or to rub your cat’s belly can be a great way to step back from your life for a moment, be in the present, and connect with another creature. It’s interesting to note that studies among Alzheimer’s patients show that those who have a pet experience fewer anxious episodes.
They help prevent loneliness
If you live alone or if your children have recently flown the coop, a pet can be a cure for loneliness. They demand and enjoy your attention, and close relationships are quickly formed when you treat them with love and affection.
They help keep you active
Although dogs are known for needing to be walked, anyone who’s tried keeping up with a kitten is familiar with the runaround they can give you, too! Your pet-related exercise can help to lower your blood pressure, drop your cholesterol levels and improve your overall sense of wellbeing.
They keep your heart healthy
Owning a pet can lower your risk of heart disease and heart failure, and people who have already suffered from heart conditions are known to show an improvement in their recovery if they have an animal to come home to. All of these benefits have also led to links between pet ownership and longevity. It must be all that love.
They can make you happier
Playing with a dog or cat releases serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters that make you feel pleasure and calmness. In this way, pets have often been linked to helping people cope with depression. The responsibility and maturity required when taking care of a pet can also help build up your sense of self-worth.
They can make you more social
There’s an unwritten bond that exists between pet lovers. They’re prone to raising their eyes and smiling at each other at the dog park and often talk easily about their cats’ hilarious antics. Having a pet can be a great way to meet people – at parks, at puppy school – and can lead to a greater sense of community with others.
Sources:
- Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-having-a-pet-is-good-for-your-health
- WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/features/health-benefits-of-pets#1
- Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/how-having-a-pet-can-make-us-healthier-a6792126.html
- Medical Daily: https://www.medicaldaily.com/top-10-reasons-pets-are-good-your-health-245712