The Healing Power Of Our Four-Legged Friends
Let’s find out how our loyal companions impact your physical and mental health!
NATURE & ANIMAL BONDS
For thousands of years, humans and a few selected species of animals have formed a relationship that goes far beyond that of an owner and a pet. For many, their furry companions are true friends and even family.
And you might think that having those cute eyes and that waggy tail waiting for you when you come home is rewarding enough. But turns out scientists have discovered that pets can have incredible benefits on your health too.
Friends are essential for your mental health, and pets are great friends!
Friendships play a crucial role in our everyday life. They keep us company, provide support, and give us a sense of belonging and closeness. What’s more, they are key to preventing many mental health issues in the short and long term. But those incredible benefits are not reserved exclusively for human friends.
Studies have shown that owning a pet can decrease or even prevent feelings of loneliness and social isolation. After all, who doesn’t appreciate that sense of company when our furry friends lay beside us after a long or tough day?
And that unconditional companionship can also guard us against other types of illnesses, or help us manage them better.
“Research points out that pets bring many benefits to people who suffer from mental health problems, especially in times of crisis.”
For example, they help manage anxiety and depression, two of the most common mental health issues.
And as if that wasn’t enough…
Pets help you improve your physical health too!
The mechanisms of why this happens are not totally known yet. But people who own pets tend to have lower blood pressure and lower total cholesterol.
Even when it comes to more serious diseases, like diabetes, epilepsy or cancer, some service animals have shown to be of enormous help. Service dogs, for example, can be trained to alert when their owner is about to have a hyper or hypoglycemic episode, or even an epilepsy attack. That’s pretty impressive, right?
You may have seen those cute videos on social media where a service animal is brought to a hospital. That's not just a pose! They can help you get better after being sick.
But even if you’re healthy, pets still have a lot of physical health benefits for you. For starters, they can boost your mood and be a buffer against the stress of everyday life, which has countless benefits in its own right.
And it makes sense. There’s something calming and relaxing about those cute little eyes staring at you when you pet them.
But it’s not only about cats and dogs. A study showed that just watching a fish swimming in an aquarium can reduce muscle tension and decrease your heart rate.
Still, if you happen to be someone who loves dogs, for example, then all the best. That couple of extra steps a day you take when you walk them might not seem like much, but research shows that they, too, improve your health in the long run.
So let’s take a minute to appreciate our pets! The gift of true friendship is only one of the wonders they bring into our lives.
Sources:
-M. Hussein, Sara & Solima, W & Khalifa, Ahmed. (2021). Benefits of pets' ownership, a review based on health perspectives. Journal of Internal Medicine and Emergency Research
-McConnell AR, Brown CM, Shoda TM, Stayton LE, Martin CE. Friends with benefits: on the positive consequences of pet ownership. J Pers Soc Psychol.
