Saturday, November 19, 2011

Four Health Benefits of Having a Pet

By Regina T. Roby


When asked about the first thought that that pops into one's min when thinking about adding a pet to your home, it's unlikely that the improved wellness pets offer would be cited. Typically it's not difficult to target the negative aspects like greater responsibility and cost, the majority of people overlook the intangible rewards like health. Sadly, these benefits aren't obtaining the attention that they deserve as the connection between pet ownership and health advantages continue to get stronger. Lately there's been more information coming to light that shows that the adoption of a cat or dog can provide substantial benefits to one's health. Although there are many, let's look at several of the most compelling.

Owning a Pet Can Combat Depression

Most people should be able to confirm that being around a household pet can boost your disposition and battle depression.Whether stroking one's cat or dog, it can take less than a quarter of an hour to feel less anxious and stressed. Usually, the body experiences actual physical changes by experiencing a diminished amount of cortisol, a hormone affiliated with stress. Also, therapists have been known to propose pet companionship as a way of recovering from depression. Pets provide people with depression unconditional love and a sympathetic, non-judgmental ear that can help them triumph over their condition. Pets certainly provide a benefit to the mental health of their owners.

Dog Owners Are Frequently More Physically Fit

There's no doubt that dog owners tend to be more physically active which derives from the requirements of their pets. Requiring frequent exercise, not to mention bathroom breaks, dogs rely on their owners to give them the exercise they need, whether it's a walk around the neighborhood or just playing a game. As anyone can recognize, taking your dog for a daily 30-minute walk keeps you moving and makes certain that you satisfy the minimum suggestions for healthy physical activity. Alternatively, two 15-minute walks should have a similar benefit, and a game of catch can keep both you and your companion fit.

Cat Owners Have a Lower Risk of Strokes

In a compelling study, researchers have confirmed that the risk of stroke is decreased by 33% for those folks who own a cat. A 2008 study performed by scientists at the University of Minnesota looked at over 4,000 individuals between the ages of 30 and 75 found this surprising correlation. Though a definitive reason has not been determined, it's extensively believed that the behavior shown around cats minimizes factors that promote heart disease, like tension, blood pressure and pulse rate. Some feel that because they are less demanding and vocal than some other types of pets, cats offer a more calming, hypnotic effect that pulls their owners' interest away from more stressful worries.

Pets Can Aid in Eliminating Allergies in Children

Allergies are ordinarily among the biggest concerns when considering if you should bring pets into your home, but did you know that having pets can actually improve a child's immunity and lessen the chance that kids will develop allergies? Researchers have found that when children grow up in a household that has both a dog and a cat, they are far less likely to develop allergies by the time they are 13 years old. This has been found to occur when kids live on a farm with large animals, too. Although scientists have not been able to figure out why this is the case, the reality is that a multi-pet household seems to benefit little ones' health.

While there are lots of excellent reasons to get a pet, enhancing one's health is certainly not one of the primary that come to mind. Ideally, after looking at these few examples, enhancing health will be more highly placed when you consider getting a pet.




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