How Pets Make Your Family Healthier
There is almost no greater feeling than cuddling your favorite furry friend after a long day. We know our pets make us happy, but did you know that they also make us healthier? So you can thank your fuzzy buddy for the following benefits:
Get More Exercise
Owning a pet means that you need to take care of their physical needs, with dogs typically needing the most care of common household pets since they’re pack animals. Pets need to be walked, played with, and exercised daily to remain physically and mentally healthy.
Consequently, they need us to help them complete these activities, meaning that people who own dogs get more exercise per week than non-dog owners. In addition, the American Heart Association says that dog owners specifically tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and also be more likely to survive a heart attack.
For all the non-dog owners out there, there’s no need to worry. Pets like cats can also get you active since they need to be exercised too. In fact, when trained correctly cats can also enjoy leashed walks.
Reduce Stress
When tensions run high, pets play a role in smoothing things over by being a source of common interest and happiness to the family. Pet owners also show greater self-esteem and decrease loneliness with all of the good vibes that pets bring. Scientifically, pets increase a family’s oxytocin levels which:
- Increases happiness
- Helps relieve pain
- Decreases stress and anxiety
Reduce Allergies in Children
Pets are one of the many ways you can raise healthier kids. In a study published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy, children who are exposed to pets as early as six weeks old or younger were less likely to develop allergies, asthma and eczema as they got older. Having pets in the household means that your baby will be exposed to allergens and dander earlier in life, making their bodies react in a less dramatic fashion when they get older.