Positive Effects that Pets Can Have on Your Health

Positive effects that pets can have on your health

When you become one of the proud owners of pets in the world, join a group of people who enjoy health benefits that non-pet owners do not have access to. Even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sound about the health benefits of pets!

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Pets offer stress relief to their owners and reduced blood pressure. But they also relieve depression and loneliness. Studies have shown that older people who have pets to take care of remain independent for longer than single elderly.

The CDC explains that, in addition to blood pressure and the health benefits of the depression, pets also reduce cholesterol levels and triglycerides. They help you get more exercise and contribute to your own socialization.

Studies have shown that only five minutes of interaction with a therapy dog ​​offers immediate benefits for stress reduction. Dogs will not judge you or respond to your disability, your age or your beauty. They are non-discriminating pets that love their owners, no matter what happens.

Studies conducted in patients with Alzheimer’s disease suggested that giving dog therapy for one hour a day for four consecutive days reduced the apathy that patients had for their lives. And other pet therapy, such as the use of aquariums, appeared to increase appetite and reduce aggression in patients with dementia.

Animals of all kinds offer health benefits – not just domestic pets! A 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy was allowed to communicate with a tame elephant in the course of time. The biological response to these episodes was an improved outlook on life and a chemical change in serotonin levels.

Prisoners have also been given the responsibility of owning pets to help cultivate a sense of caring and a way of dealing with depression. When they were given a cat to take care of in prison, the prisoners who took part in the program reported an increase in self-respect.

Nobody knows exactly why the interaction with pets has such a positive effect on human health, but it has been documented with a variety of animals – from dolphins to dogs. It may be that we feel comfortable, relying on an animal that is not judgmental about us.

Whether it is about improving your physical health or helping you to develop a better mental look, if you are a pet owner, you can drastically change the way you live – for good!