Pets are arguably the best source of unconditional love in the world. They can be your best friend, they are never actually upset with you, and they do you more good than you could possibly imagine. Indeed, scientists have known for a while now the benefits of spending time with pets.
- People with pets have a decreased risk of heart disease
- Having your infant spend time with a pet grants them a much improved immunity system
- Petting your favorite animal can lower blood pressure and unleash relaxation hormones
- Pets can help with your feelings of loneliness and even depression
Doctors have been examining the effects pets have on their humans’ health for decades, and even though they keep trying to keep people informed, it hasn’t been working really well. Until recently.
According to a recent study, over 60% of American household own a dog or a cat, but no mention is made regarding the ownership of other animals.
And this is a very good thing, according to doctors everywhere. Pets can have a wide variety of health benefits, all throughout your life.
Ever since infancy, experts suggest letting your child spend time with their pets, as they will be granted a better immunity system, as well as a 14% decreased risk of allergies and asthma.
Barring the physical aspect, psychologists recommend letting your children spend time with a pet they like, so as to help them build better trust-based relationships.
Heart disease is another area greatly improved by interacting with your best animal friend, as studies have shown increased healing times, lower blood pressure, and an overall longer life expectancy.
This is owed to a number of factors, like the fact that dog owners take their animals for walks, thus getting some exercise done, as well as to the fact that petting your animal will release relaxation hormones, like serotonin and dopamine, the same hormones released when doing drugs, being in love, and experiencing feelings of awe.
Not only that, but they will, by themselves, lower your blood pressure.
Pets are also great therapeutic companions, being able to relieve feelings of loneliness, and even depression. And this isn’t owed entirely to the fact that having a dog allows you to be more social, but animals in general, if you treat them nicely, manage to offer you the much needed unrequited love that so many of us lack in today’s society.
Image source: Flickr
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