How dogs promote a healthier lifestyle
A little stressed out at work? No problem! One of the best therapies is going home to your pet.
Pets, particularly dogs and cats, help ease stress, worry, and depression, as well as loneliness, encourage exercise and pleasure, and improve cardiovascular health.
Caring for an animal can assist children in being more secure and active as they develop. Pets can also give crucial companionship to the elderly. Perhaps most importantly, a pet can provide you with genuine delight and unconditional affection.
Pets can improve your physical and mental health
While it is true that individuals who have pets frequently have better health than those who do not, a pet does not have to be a dog or a cat. If you are allergic to other animals or have limited room but still want a fuzzy pet to snuggle with, a rabbit may be great.
Birds can promote social interaction and keep your mind fresh in elderly adults. Snakes, lizards, and other reptiles may make interesting pets to observe. Even seeing fish in an aquarium might help you relax your muscles and lower your heart rate.
According to research:
- Pet owners are less prone to suffer from depression than non-pet owners.
- Dog and pet parents had lower blood pressure in stressful situations than non-pet owners. According to one study, people with borderline hypertension who adopted dogs from a shelter had a significant decline in their blood pressure after five months.
- Playing with a dog, cat, or other pet can boost serotonin and dopamine levels, which help to relax and calm the mind
- Compared to non-pet owners, pet owners had reduced levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, clear indicators of heart disease.
- Patients with heart attacks who have pets survive longer than those who have not.
- Pet Pet owners over 65 visit their doctors 30% less frequently than non-pet owners.
Dogs satisfy a fundamental human craving for touch, which is one of the reasons for their therapeutic advantages. Even hardened criminals in prison have long-term behavioral changes after interacting with dogs, with many feeling reciprocal affection for the first time.
When you're feeling frightened or anxious, brush, snuggle, or otherwise interact with a loving animal to instantly calm and comfort you.
Even playing some indoor games is a fun and engaging way to occupy both your pooch and yourself. It is a common misconception that fun with dogs should always be outdoors - there are a ton of indoor games you can play on those cold or rainy winter days.
Loneliness may be alleviated by pets with companionship, and most dogs are a good stimulus for healthy exercise, which may considerably boost your mood and lessen unhappiness.
How dogs promote a healthier lifestyle
Dogs make great companions for people of all ages and activity levels. They provide us with unconditional love and always seem to be happy to see us, no matter what kind of day we've had. But did you know that owning a dog can also help make us healthier?
Adopting healthy lifestyle adjustments can help alleviate depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar disorder, and PTSD symptoms. Caring for a pet can assist you in making healthy lifestyle choices by:
1. Reducing anxiety
Animal companionship may bring comfort, reduce anxiety, and enhance self-confidence in those who are scared to go out into the world. Pets may help you become more mindful and appreciate the delight of the present since they like to live in the moment and aren't concerned with what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow.
2. Relief from sensory stress
Touch and action are two natural ways to ease stress quickly. Stroking a dog, cat, or another animal immediately decreases your levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel calmer and less angry.
3. Increase your vitality
Studies have shown that dog owners are more likely to get the recommended amount of daily exercise than those who don't have dogs. And it makes sense when you think about it - after all, dogs need to be walked every day, and playing fetch is a great way to get in some extra cardio.
4. Increase physical exercise
Walking, hiking, or kayaking with your dog is a gratifying and enjoyable way to get some daily exercise. According to studies, dog owners are considerably more likely to achieve their daily activity needs, and exercising every day benefits the animal as well.
Even a small dog will benefit from a hike a day. If your tiny pooch has problems keeping up with you, you can always bring a doggy backpack as a failsafe. Think about it as weight training for yourself!
5. Assists you in meeting new individuals
Pets may be a fantastic social lubricant for their owners, assisting in the formation and growth of new connections.
You’ll meet tons of fellow pet parents in pet stores, kennel clubs, training classes, and the dog park. No man is an island, and no matter how introverted you are, meeting another human being can’t hurt!
6. You find purpose and joy in the life
As you become older, you lose things that used to occupy your time and give your life meaning. You may retire from your job, or your children could relocate far away. Caring for a pet may be enjoyable and beneficial to your morale, optimism, and feeling of self-worth, especially when a devoted dog becomes obsessed with you!
Final Thoughts
Dogs have been proven to be effective in treating anxiety. One of the ways they help is by providing companionship. When you're feeling anxious, it can be helpful to have a furry friend by your side.
Dogs can also help to distract from anxious thoughts and provide a sense of calm. In addition, dogs can provide much-needed exercise and fresh air, which can also help to reduce anxiety symptoms.
So the next time you’re in need of some stress relief, go find a pet to pat, or better yet, think about adopting a dog of your own and have a symbiotic relationship with man’s best friend.
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