This may sound a bit exaggeration, but honestly, I cannot explain the sudden relaxation and satisfaction I fell when I take bimbo (my cat) in my arms after a long stressful day at work. There is no debate in the fact that our fluffy friends are mode lifters and make us feel better no matter how low we are feeling. Researches also indicate that our fluffy friends also have a positive influence on our mental and physical health.
Pets are the best companions. They offer us unconditional love and acceptance and remains loyal to us even at the lowest point in our lives. The bond and companionship can have a positive impact on our mental health which subsequently reduces the risk of a variety of conditions that can lead to chronic diseases, thus improving our overall health.
Owning a dog or a cat or any other pet for that matter is through a great deal of responsibility, but the positivity they bring makes all the work that you put well worth it. Pets not only improve our mental health but also stimulate our physical health, and in this article, I am highlighting 7 ways that pets can have a positive influence on our health.
7 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health
Ways Pets Improve Your Health
1. Pets May Lower Your Cholesterol
The best thing about the pets, especially dogs, is the daily walks. These daily walks improve your heart health and keep your cholesterol levels in check. Pet owners tend to do more exercise compared to others and are generally more active, which is good for heart health. Australian National Heart Foundation surveys have found that pet owners, particularly men, have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
2. Pets Help Your Relieve Stress
Pets offer us unconditional love which can do wonders for our mood. Just being in the same room with them can have a calming effect. This is because our body releases a powerful neurochemical, oxytocin when we look at our beloved pet, which brings us internal contentment and joy. Pets help you beat depression, and by giving your life a purpose. One of the major causes of depression is the feeling that your life has no value and by taking on the responsibilities of a pet, you feel positive, and most importantly you find a purpose, which is key to preventing and beating depression.
3. Pets Lower The Blood Pressure
If you are struggling from high blood pressure, its time that you start thinking about keeping a pet. Petting will make you feel good as it stimulates the production of relaxation hormones and puts a cut on the production levels of stress hormones and thus lower the blood pressure. Pets help us to relax, which keeps the body’s blood pressure in check.
4. Ease Pain
This may not sound very convincing to you, but researches have indicated that pets can certainly help you beat chronic pains such as arthritis and migraines. And the reason is pretty simple, pets reduce anxiety levels, and lesser anxiety means lesser pains. A study conducted by Loyola university revealed that people who use pet therapy as they recover from surgery might have to take significantly less pain medication compared to those who don’t.
5. Pets Prevent Allergies in Children
If you have pets at home, the newborns are less likely to develop allergies and asthma. As per the findings of Clinical & Experimental Allergy, kids that have exposure to pets before they are six months have significantly lower chances of developing allergic diseases when they grow older. When exposed to pets at an early age, these children have fewer chances of having hay fever, eczema, and asthma and develop a stronger immune system.
6. Pets reduce your cardiovascular disease risk
The cardiovascular diseases are caused by majorly due to irregular blood pressure, stress, and increased cholesterol. Like mentioned before, pets help you overcome all of these irregularities plus the increased fitness reduces the risks of all kinds of cardiovascular diseases. Numerous studies conducted by AHA revealed that pet ownership suppresses the growth of agents that cause cardiovascular issues.
7. Pets increase your social interaction
Last but not least, pets stimulate your social interaction. Pets owners have more opportunities for better social interaction as you can join pet clubs or attend pet shows. Going to pet-friendly parks, beaches, and pet events help you increase your social network, which has a positive impact on your mental health. You might make a couple of news friends by talking your pet out of a walk or waiting at the vet as you share common interests in pets. Thus, if you are looking for a great way to improve your social health, pets may help you.
Pets can certainly improve our lives in a number of ways. If you are interested in keeping a pet after this article, Kuddos, you are doing the right thing and please let us know in the comment section which pet are you more interested in keeping.
Author Bio:
Martin Taylor is the head writer of, www.naturesblends.co.uk/, an organic products brand in the UK. The company produces a wide variety of black seed products and has earned a strong reputation for using the finest quality herbs under quality processing.
