Those people who have pets understand they make us joyful and minimize our feelings of loneliness. On the flip side, a recent study has shown pet poverty is on the rise, which is quite alarming considering how pets are beneficial to our health. Past the psychological elevator, our pets offer actual, quantifiable health benefits. Per the Centers for Disease Control, having pets may help lower blood pressure, alleviate tension and stress, and reduce cholesterol levels. Here are a couple of reasons why you should consider owning a pet.
Lower Instances of Stress
Individuals afflicted by a life-threatening illness, or experiencing long-term pain like migraines and arthritis, have been shown to require less pain medicine with pets compared to without. Cats notably offer the most calming effect over any other pet. Having pets reduces the feelings of anxiety and depression brought on by pain, and just petting an animal will boost dopamine levels that offer a sense of happiness. This may also reduce cortisol levels, which lead to decreasing stress, nervousness, and depression.
Reduce Loneliness and Anxiety
Once we leave home with our pets, chances to satisfy new people expand. Individuals who might have nothing in common possess a quick ice-breaker due to their pets. Like kids, pets are a frequent denominator that connects us and provides us consent to pick up a dialogue with, well, anybody. A few perfect places for meeting new people and expanding social abilities comprise pet parks, training courses, outside cafes, and internet forums for pet owners.
Trigger an Active Lifestyle
Using a pet regularly means you’ll want to spend time outside. This is very true with puppies, but individuals who have cats may spend some time playing with them. Pets give us unconditional love and also instill us with a feeling of purpose. Therapy dogs can also assist the elderly and people with physical impairments to carry out regular tasks. Reduced blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglycerides are a couple of the numerous ways pets offer health benefits. Research has demonstrated that pets help decrease our risk of getting a heart attack. For individuals who have been a heart attack, the study suggests that patients with pets have improved recovery rates because these gains are correlated with pets’ inclination to reduce overall anxiety levels.