Health Benefits of Having Pets
Pets not only bring joy, but also tangible health benefits to many people.
Eating a balanced diet. Exercising regularly. Adopting a pet. These are all things you can do to stay healthy, though one of them isn’t as familiar as the others. That’s right, adopting a pet, in addition to all the benefits of fun and friendship it brings into your home, has also been shown to bring good health. Here are some examples of the ways in which pet owners have been shown to have better health than their non-pet owning counterparts:
Your pooch can provide an outlet for human affection, one of the health benefits of having a pet.
Better Heart Health
Pet owners have been shown in studies to fight heart disease, the number one cause of death in America, better than those without pets. Pet owners, in addition to surviving heart attacks more frequently and for longer periods of time, demonstrate better health in the areas that affect the development of heart problems. These include:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Lower triglycerides
There could be many reasons why this is so. Some of the most prominent explanations include:
- Exercise: Pet owners are more likely to get exercise than non-pet owners. Active pets keep their owners active and activities such as playing fetch, walking and jogging help keep both pets and owners upbeat.
- Stress: Pet owners have been shown to suffer from less stress than others. This could be due to the companionship that pets provide. They help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation and give people a receptive outlet for affection.
Growing up around dogs or cats can help reduce the risks of developing asthma and allergies.
Health Watchdogs
In addition to the healthy lifestyle changes dogs encourage, they also can help you monitor your health. Dogs have been known to sense seizures before they happen and can help you prepare. Additionally, they can help people with Parkinson’s by helping them move and reducing the risk of falling.
Allergies and Asthma
Though it may seem counterintuitive, growing up around dogs or cats can help reduce the risks of developing asthma and allergies. This can be because it helps children develop immunity to pet dander.
Pets help you stay healthy in a variety of ways, in addition to all the other great services they provide. Pet adoption is a no-brainer!
