Mary Allen
We already knew that people with pets generally feel better than others. But what exactly it is that can affect the pet owner’s health is a bit variable. Here are some examples.
Pets reduce stress
Just being in the same room as an animal usually has a calming effect. Because when you look at your dog, or cuddle with it and feel love, the feel-good hormone oxytocin is secreted. It is also usually followed by a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol.
Pets can lower your blood pressure
When you cuddle with your dog, your blood pressure drops, and the dog’s well-being increases. A study of patients with high blood pressure showed that those who had pets had half as much stress as those without pets.
You get better condition with a dog
People with dogs walk about 300 minutes a week, compared to 168 minutes a week for people without dogs, according to the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
Dogs reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
The above-listed effects of having pets, especially dogs, according to the American Heart Association, thus lead to lower cholesterol, reduce stress, and lower blood pressure. In combination with more physical activity, this is of course a given recipe for reducing the risk of heart disease.
Pets can reduce depression
The fact that the dog has to go out in all weathers can help you activate yourself in a way that otherwise would not have been obvious, and thus can feel a little better. Physical activity helps with depression. In addition, pets provide a sense of therapeutic and psychological well-being – especially dogs, according to the British Psychological Society.