There are a lot of good reasons to become a dog owner, but did you know that owning a dog may be good for your health too? If you do not own one yet, you will probably want to go right out to buy a dog after you find out more about the three physical health benefits that come along with having dogs. The mental and emotional benefits of dogs are many, but did you know that there are even health benefits that accompany dog ownership?
9 Ways Dogs Benefit Your Physical Health
If you are trying to improve your physical health, then caring for a dog is the first step toward feeling better. Medical experts are learning about the benefits of dog ownership, and recommend getting a dog to their patients rather than physical therapy or medications. Dogs benefits your health in many ways, here are nine reasons!
1) Decreased Risk & Prevention of Allergies
Children who are exposed to dogs on a regular basis are shown to have a reduced risk of developing pet allergies. Cuddling with a furry friend may be able to help you children avoid having to deal with the life-long problem of allergies. The exposure to a child’s immune system early on can be helpful in the long run.
Do you have young children in the home? Research proves that exposing the kids to animals at an early age may help them to avoid suffering from allergies in the future. Even being around the pets while pregnant has its benefits when it comes to reducing and preventing allergies. Maybe the dander that dogs leave behind in the home is not so bad after all!
2) Better Heart Health
Taking care of yourself is necessary for heart health, but owning a dog may be able to help as well. Studies have shown that those who own dogs often have decreased blood pressure, as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The studies also found that individuals with dogs who have had a heart attack are better able to heal than those without a pet. These rates are tied to the ability of pets to help owners reduce stress levels, which have an impact on heart health.
3) Lower High Blood Pressure
Have you been told by your physician that your blood pressure is a bit high? Your blood pressure probably gets worse whenever you get angry or frustrated. If you own a pup, you may be in luck. Petting your pooch will help you relax, ultimately lowering your blood pressure and your risk for related health conditions.
Physicians are not exactly sure why dogs help to reduce a patient’s high blood pressure, but there are studies that reveal an improvement in hypertension is common for dog owners. In many cases, the patients owning a dog are sedentary, but they still have a reduction in their high blood pressure.
4)Keeping Weight in the Normal Range
Owning a dog encourages people to exercise more with daily walks. Veterinarians recommend that a pet owner walk their dog at once a day, and many individuals perform this task several times a day. Not only is a dog healthier because of these frequent walks, but also, owners are able to maintain their body weight.
5) Increasing Activity & Fitness
Staying physically fit is good for your health. When you are overweight, there is a much higher risk of suffering from heart disease and other medical problems. Even if you struggle to stay motivated when it comes to participating in different types of physical activity, your dog can keep you active and fit. If you are taking your pet for daily walks, you are already getting some extra exercise in during the day. Playing different games with your dog, such as fetch, will also help you to stay active a bit more often.
Most dogs need to be walked on a regular basis, giving owners a greater opportunity to get outside and move on a regular basis. Additionally, dogs can be helpful motivational tools for those who want to lose weight or maintain a fitness level for a long period of time. Many people take their dogs with them when they run, hike or play outside.
6) Increasing Flexibility in the Body’s Joints
Dog owners must bend over to pick up a pet or to fill a food dish, increasing the flexibility in their body’s joints. With many individuals living a sedentary lifestyle at work and home, finding ways to move more is an excellent way to improve flexibility in their back, hips and knees.
7)Improving the Body’s Immunity Levels
Caring for a dog helps to improve the brain’s health, leading to a release of hormones that will enter a pet owner’s body. These hormones travel through the bloodstream into the lymph nodes and adrenal glands to improve the body’s immunity levels. Dog owners tend to have a higher immunity level to avoid contracting illnesses such as influenza or the common cold.
8) Helping Senior Citizens Feel Better
Medical researchers are still trying to understand why owning dogs benefits human health. However, because being around pets is good for human health, more assisted living environments are bringing dogs into facilities to permit senior citizens a chance to feel better.
9) Able to Detect Early Warning Signs of Health Problems
Some researchers have discovered that dogs may be able to warn owners of health problems that the humans may not even know about yet. Cancer, hypoglycemia and seizures may be detected by dogs, giving their owners a head start on treatment options.
Are You Ready For A Dog?
Owning a dog can provide meaning and structure to life, but it can also help improve health benefits as well. The reward of unconditional love can be made even sweeter when health is improved. Now that you know a dog could potentially help you lower your blood pressure, prevent allergies and keep you in better shape, are you ready to get one?