How can having pets improve your health? Let us count the ways
A puppy might chew our favourite slippers or our cat might keep us awake with their midnight meowing, but having a pet can be a truly rewarding experience. A bit like having children, pets can test our patience but the love they bring to a home is worth so much more.
In fact, many people end up treating their pets like another member of the family, giving them special treats and making their favourite meals.
But pet owners have another potential reason to give their pets an extra pat – it’s been shown that having a pet can improve the health of their owner. Apparently you can expect to experience lowered blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, and even reduced feelings of loneliness.
The bond between owner and pet also offers psychological and physiological benefits too. That’s why volunteers will often bring dogs to visit sick patients in hospitals around the world. The animals reduce anxiety, give us a reason to smile, raise our self-esteem and open up communication.
It seems that heart health sees the most benefit from pet ownership. Some studies have actually found that pet owners survive longer after a heart attack than those without pets. You can also reduce your blood pressure and improve your recovery after surgery by owning an animal.
It’s not just adults that can benefit from a pet either. Children are also able to improve their self-esteem and emotional function if they have pets. Animal assisted therapy is also popular for children with learning or behavioural disabilities – improvement is often seen straight away when an animal is brought into the classroom. Kids with pets are also at reduced risk for hay fever, asthma and animal-related allergies.
In general, pet owners can expect to experience:
- less trips to the doctor
- reduced depression and stress levels
- increased exercise levels
When it comes to which pet to choose – a dog or cat is clearly the most popular. But it seems that any pet has the potential to offer all of these great benefits. So why not find a friend to suit you today?