Anxiety
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), pet owners report less depression and are better at coping with grief and anxiety. Animals, especially dogs, can help their owners manage stress levels—they are especially helpful to vulnerable groups of people like individuals with PTSD and anxious children. This is supported by a study in the 2011 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, which found that pet owners have higher self-esteem, are more extroverted, and less preoccupied and fearful of everyday life challenges.
See also: Owning a Pet ‘May Help You Live Longer’
Fitness
Several studies have shown that simply having pets in the room can improve your health by lowering blood pressure more effectively than popular medication, and that petting them can help take down cholesterol. Engaging in activities such as jogging, walking, Doga (dog yoga) and cycling with your pet can be a true workout—even this simple form of physical activity can go a long way in improving heart rate and stamina. This combination of nature and exercise is also proven to improve mental health and raise vitamin D levels—which is vital for a healthy immune system.
Heart health
A study performed by the University of California, Los Angeles focused on the effect of therapy dogs on patients hospitalised with heart failure. The research demonstrated that even after a short visit—12 minutes to be exact—patients showed improved cardiopulmonary pressure, healthier neurohormone levels and decreased levels of anxiety. Another study, carried out by the National Institute of Health, also shows that heart attack recovery rates for pet owners are much faster.
Loneliness
In addition to being a perfect icebreaker, pets improve your health by solidifying socialisation skills and strengthening a person’s ability to meet and interact with others—this is especially applicable to dogs. Training classes, animal-friendly parks, online pet-focused social networking sites and outdoor cafes can all provide comfortable social situations, even for people who don’t seem to have much in common. Social support from a pet has also been shown to lower stress and make a person feel more relaxed, easing social isolation and shyness.
See also: Loneliness in Old Age
If you have enjoyed reading this article about how pets improve your health, click here to read more on Celebrity Angels about what a healthy diet for dogs consists of.
