16/06/2022
Can owning a furry friend increase your health .
An increasing body of scientific evidence is showing that dogs are good for all of us. From lowering blood pressure to expanding social circles, having a furry friend in your life is good for nearly every aspect of human health.
Dogs can help boost our immune systems:,Recent studies show that dogs contribute to a stronger immune system. People who have dogs are less likely to develop allergies
Dogs can help enhance our moods:
Dogs are a calming presence, and being around their sweet dispositions result in increased serotonin the chemical responsible for making us feel happy and keeping anxiety and depression at bay. Research is also showing that dogs are capable of picking up on human emotions and oftentimes respond accordingly.
Dogs help stave off heart disease: Playing with pups reduces cortisol levels in our systems, which in turn lower blood pressure and cholesterol two of the main culprits of cardiovascular disease.
Dogs keep us active: This one is my favorite! People who have dogs tend to be more active since part of being a dog owner means having to walk them regularly. Even a daily 30-minute walk with your workout buddy ensures the minimum health recommendation for healthy physical activity.
Dogs keep us social: Dog owners tend to gravitate towards other dog owners. Whether members of a canine society or simply strolling with our furry friends through our neighborhoods , dogs have a funny way of bringing us humans together.
Dogs Enhance Physical and Mental Health
• Dog owners reap amazing cardiovascular benefits, including lower cholesterol and reduced blood pressure.
• Dog owners have a lower likelihood of visiting the doctor.
• Dog owners have a lower likelihood of being on medication for sleeping and heart issues.
• Dog owners have a lower likelihood of health deterioration after losing their significant other.
• Dogs help fight depression.
• Dogs allow humans to have responsibility, purpose, and support.
• Dog owners feel safer outside when walking their dogs.
• Having a pet can save you money on health care due to less frequent doctor’s visits--a result of greater, more stable health.
Dogs Have Big Benefits for Children
• Children who have dogs at home are more active. This leads to a more physical and healthier lifestyle.
• Children who owns dogs generally become more nurturing adults.
• Children with pets have higher self-esteem.
• Children with pets have an enhanced immune system and experience less allergies than children who are not around pets.
• Dogs make children feel safe.
Dogs In Hospital and Nursing Homes
• Dogs helped patient become more responsive, alert, and happier.
• Residential dogs in nursing homes resulted in less fatigue, less depression, and increase in vigor for patients.
• Residents of nursing home socialized more with each other when dogs were present.
Dogs Can Prevent Illness and Injury
• A study showed that dog owners experience less minor injuries than non-dog owners.
• Pet owners have lower risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Dogs Can Speed Up Recovery From Illness
• Dog owners are more than 8.6 times more likely to be alive after a heart attack than non-dog owners.
• Pets allow humans to cope better after learning they have a major illness.
• Pets allow humans to feel like they have a sense of support before, during, and after their illness.
• Recently widowed women with dogs are on less medication and experience less symptoms of disease than their non-dog owning counterparts.
Dogs Provide Unspoken Therapy
• Dogs help soldiers cope with post traumatic stress disorder.
• Some programs allow dogs to be trained for the disabled by prisoners. This help boost the prisoners’ self-esteems and teaches them nurturing skills.
• Dogs are a great stress relief for students during exams.
• Patients with schizophrenia feel safer and less stressed with friendly dogs around.
• Dogs provide love and relief from loneliness.
Dogs Help the Disabled
• Dogs are used as service dogs for the blind, deaf, and people with other disabilities.
• They don’t just provide a physical benefit to the disabled, but they also provide companionship and emotional support. They allow the disabled to feel more independent and help with their mobility and confidence.
Medical Detection Dogs
• Some dogs have been trained to look for complications such as epilepsy, diabetes, and cancer due to their acute sense of smell. A dog’s nose is estimated to be from 100 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human nose.
Dogs Help People Be More Social
• Dogs make you get out of the house.
• By walking more, you meet more people and socialize more.
• A study has shown that you appear more likeable if you appear with a dog in a photo than you would with flowers.
So whatever your reason for having a dog (or perhaps wanting to get one!), please remember that these fur balls are just as good for us as we are for them -- truly making them our best friends.
