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New research suggests that sharing your life with a cat or dog can enhance your well-being just as much as being married or regularly spending time with friends and family.
Published on March 31 in the journal Social Indicators Research, the study found that the emotional benefits of having a pet translate to an equivalent of nearly £70,000 (US$90,000) a year in life satisfaction—a measure used by economists to put a value on non-material aspects of happiness.
According to the researchers, that’s comparable to the boost typically linked to strong social ties, such as marriage or frequent social visits, based on similar statistical comparisons used in past studies.
These findings underscore what many pet owners already know: owning a pet is a deeply rewarding experience. Beyond companionship, animals can bring a wide range of physical and mental health benefits.
Click through and get to know the surprising health benefits of owning a pet.
Being around animals lowers cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland when we are stressed. While it serves a purpose, too much of it, too often, can have a detrimental effect on our health.
Just spending 10 minutes in the company of an animal can reduce your stress levels. And not only does your cortisol level decrease, but a cocktail of feel-good hormones is also released.
If you’re allergic to cats or dogs, you’re probably thinking this wouldn’t be your case. Well, it turns out that people who have these allergies can actually improve by being exposed to pets.
A study found that children who had a dog at home were at a lower risk of developing allergies.
Unlike us, cats and dogs walk on the street without any protection, and they lick themselves. This means that they will bring germs home. Exposure to these germs can actually help build a child’s immune system, especially during the first months of their life, and consequently have an effect on allergic reactions later in life.
Petting animals can actually boost your immune system. Studies have found that children who lived with a dog had higher levels of immune system chemicals.
And this doesn’t just apply to home pets. Farm animals will also boost immunity, with a study showing that infants who grew up in such settings had lower incidences of allergies and asthma.
While a bird won’t help you exercise more, a dog certainly will! Whether or not you lack the motivation to work out, a dog will leave you no choice but to go out and at least take a walk.
Being more active brings a number of health benefits. Not surprisingly perhaps, but a study has found that dog owners live a more active lifestyle when compared to those who don’t own a pooch.
Even if you live on your own, having a pet will certainly help you not feel so lonely.
And if you have a dog, there is the whole social side of walking your pet. You’ll be exposed to more people and will likely interact with them. In fact, one survey found that 54% of respondents believed their pet helps them connect with other people.
Pets can do wonders for mental health. One study found that pet owners were about 41% less depressed when compared to those who didn't own animals.
According to clinical psychologist Perpetua Neo, "Animals pick up on when their owners are distressed. When they sense you're not feeling well, they offer comfort."
Owning a pet can actually lower your blood pressure. So much so that a study found that people with hypertension saw their blood pressure lowering significantly after spending five months with a dog.
High blood pressure can lead to a number of health issues, including a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. So it's safe to say that a pet really is good for your heart!
Recovering from serious health events such as a stroke or a heart attack can be hard. But the good news is that pets can help.
A study found that people with dogs had better outcomes after a traumatic heart complication, including a lower chance of death.
Pets have their own way to communicate with humans, and because they can’t talk, they have to master nonverbal communication. This helps owners be more attuned to nonverbal communication in general.
Being aware of body language can be very helpful, especially in situations where verbal communication is not an option (for example, in a foreign country where there is a language barrier).
Petting an animal triggers a number of chemical responses in our brains, including the release of oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. This will make us feel more connected to our pets.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is also released. It affects your mood and your happiness, in a positive way.
While sleeping with a pet in bed might disturb your sleep, having your furry friend in your bedroom as you sleep can actually have a positive impact on sleep quality.
Feeling secure, relaxed, and knowing you’re not alone may contribute to this.
Like blood pressure, your cholesterol might decrease if you own a pet. Chronic high cholesterol levels can lead to a number of health complications and even result in a heart attack or stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the health benefits of owning a pet include “decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and symptoms of PTSD.”
Many people suffer from chronic pain. Fortunately, being around a pet can actually help decrease the pain.
A study also found that animal-assisted therapy actually decreased the need for pain medication in the post-operative period.
Yes, people who own pets have been found to live longer than those who don’t. According to a study, people with dogs actually had a 24% less risk of death, when compared to those who didn’t own one.
This doesn’t really come as a surprise, considering all the health benefits mentioned previously!
Sources: (Health Digest) (CDC) (The New York Times) (Psychology Today) (HelpGuide) (Anthrozoös) (Mars) (Advanced Sleep Medicine Services) (Physician's Weekly)
See also: The most important life lessons we learn from our pets
The surprising health benefits of owning a pet
You'll likely live longer!
HEALTH Pets
New research suggests that sharing your life with a cat or dog can enhance your well-being just as much as being married or regularly spending time with friends and family.
Published on March 31 in the journal Social Indicators Research, the study found that the emotional benefits of having a pet translate to an equivalent of nearly £70,000 (US$90,000) a year in life satisfaction—a measure used by economists to put a value on non-material aspects of happiness.
According to the researchers, that’s comparable to the boost typically linked to strong social ties, such as marriage or frequent social visits, based on similar statistical comparisons used in past studies.
These findings underscore what many pet owners already know: owning a pet is a deeply rewarding experience. Beyond companionship, animals can bring a wide range of physical and mental health benefits.
Click through and get to know the surprising health benefits of owning a pet.