The Health Benefits of Keeping Pets
Most of us have a simultaneous love-hate relationship with our pets: one moment they are demolishing the brand-new sofa, and the next they are showering you with affection. But regardless of how they act, or how you feel about them, there are various reasons why having a pet is good for your health:
1) Decreased stress levels and blood pressure. Research conducted by the University of Warwick has revealed that, in many cases, stroking or playing with a pet relaxes the person and lowers their blood pressure. In another study, researchers tested whether pets had this effect on stockbrokers who had high blood pressure. It was found that stockbrokers that were pet owners had a significantly lower blood pressure reading than those who were not. Of course, you have to like animals in order for this to ring true; if you are nervous or afraid then pets will probably make you more anxious as opposed to more relaxed.
2) Recovery from illness. Pets have been known to help ill patients in the most wondrous ways, but heart attack patients have benefitted from pet power most frequently. Numerous studies have shown pet owners who suffer from heart attacks live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease than heart attack patients who do not have a pet at home. Pets also offer a great amount of comfort to their bed-ridden owners, and this support speeds up their recovery.
In extreme cases, such as when a person is in a coma, surgeons have even recommended for a pet to be brought to the patients bedside. While there is no real evidence to support this claim, there have been incidences when the pets presence helped the patient awake from their coma. Dogs, in particular, have also been known to offer relief to Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients.
3) Improvement in social life. Most domesticated animals are highly social creatures, and are therefore great company. Whether it is a dog that follows you around the house, or a cat that rubs up against your legs, pet owners have a constant source of social interaction. Pets can also be great conversation topics both in and outside the home.
4) Happiness. It is often underestimated how much pets can influence our happiness. In many cases they have helped their owners deal with loss and hardships, even helping them fight depression. Some psychologists have even recommended the use of pets in therapy sessions, as petting a rabbit or playing with a dog raises the serotonin levels in our brain. Being greeted by an energetic dog or purring cat that is excited to see you can be very uplifting if you feel like the life just isnt going your way. This is why pets are also used in elderly homes, to help individuals feel less lonely and isolated.
Regardless of whether you face unemployment or divorce, your pet will continue to love you unconditionally; and it is precisely this love that keeps human beings healthy and happy.