Health Wise
with Crystal Han
Your pet's role
in your health
I
f you’ve ever owned a pet, you
know how fun they can be. They
make us laugh and entertain us. But
research is quickly fi nding that pets
do more for us than we may realize. Not
only do our four-legged friends provide
companionship, they improve our mental
and physical health too!
After a particularly difficult day,
pet owners quite literally feel the love
when they come home. Animals have a
knack for sensing when we feel down
or if there’s something wrong and they
will often seek us out. This is especially
helpful for people who suffer from
depression or anxiety. Just looking into
your pet’s eyes causes your brain to
release oxytocin, which brings feelings of
joy, and it decreases the stress hormone
cortisol. Caring for our pets helps to
distract us from negative thoughts and
feelings, and it helps give us a sense of
purpose, which is very important when
dealing with depression. Animals do
wonders for self-esteem as well. Your
pets could care less about what you look
like or the mistakes you’ve made, and
you don’t ever have to explain yourself
to them. They’re just happy to be around
you and have your love and attention.
The calming, steadfast presence of a
pet is also perfect for people recovering
from physical or emotional trauma.
Studies have shown that veterans and
people suffering from PTSD had an
easier time transitioning back into
everyday life when they had an animal
companion to care for. Prisons that have
pet programs have shown an increase
in social sensitivity among inmates who
participated in the program, as well as a
decrease in aggression and depression.
Many of the inmates believe that the
animals help them deal with anger, teach
them patience, and make their time in
prison easier. In hospitals, patients who
receive pet therapy after surgery required
less pain medication than those who
didn’t have an animal companion, and
they had a quicker overall recovery time.
All of the emotional bonding you
do with your pets naturally goes on to
positively affect your physical health too.
The more we care for our pets, the more
our stress levels go down. This can do
a number of things, including reducing
symptoms of chronic pain from arthritis
or migraines, and lowering blood pres-
sure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Studies of dog owners have shown that
they have a significantly lower chance of
cardiovascular disease than those who
didn’t own a dog, mainly because dogs
prompt people to stay active and live a
healthier lifestyle. This is especially true
for people who own high-energy dogs or
big dogs that require more exercise.
Cat owners also experience heart
health benefits. Researchers conducted a
20- year study on cat owners and found
that they had a lower risk of heart attack
than non-cat owners. Even those who
had already suffered from a heart attack
were shown to have a significantly faster
recovery time if they owned a cat. It is
believed that this is because cats are low
maintenance in terms of care and that the
simple act of petting a cat has an immense
calming effect. It also helps that cats purr
at a frequency of 20 to 50Hz, which has
been shown to relieve pain, increase bone
density, and heal tendons and muscles.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
While this is mostly beneficial for the
cat, snuggling up to them during a purr
session can help you too!
People thrive from positive social
interactions, and there’s no better helper
for this than our pets. Whether we’re
at the grocery store, the gym, or the
office, the one thing that can really get
us talking is our pets. If you own a dog,
it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll talk to
at least one person while you’re out on a
walk, which could easily help you meet
a new walking buddy, best friend, or
even the love of your life. Pets are also
a great way to bridge the gap between
family members, such as grandparents
and grandchildren. Talking about a pet
gives them common ground, which can
eventually foster conversations about
everything else. The more meaningful
connections pets help us form with
others, the more satisfied we feel about
our overall lives, which translates to
better overall health.
While the majority of studies focus
on the health benefits of owning dogs
and cats, the truth is that any animal can
positively influence your health. Research
shows that people who viewed pets as
part of the family were the ones most
likely to display positive effects, proving
that it’s not about the pet itself, but the
bond you share. So if you’re thinking
about getting a pet friend, remember,
it’s all about the love!
Sources:
Davis Lerche, Jeanie, “5 Ways Pets Can Improve
Your Health”, WebMD, webmd.com
Oaklander, Mary, “Science Says Your Pet is
Good for Your Mental Health”, TIME Health,
time.com
gmhtoday.com
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