According to Science, these are the real health benefits of owning a pet

Looking to get a pet? Trying to convince a significant other to let you get a pet? There are many reasons why you might want to, but including one of the dozens of health benefits is a great way to go. There is a reason healing places incorporate pets and animals into holistic healing practices. Here are just a few of the real health benefits of owning a pet, according to science.

#1 Protection against disease

Dog.

Just the presence of a pet in the house is enough to protect children from a variety of diseases. Infants who were exposed to pets during pregnancy showed greater immune resistance later in life. This means they are less likely to develop asthma, atopic dermatitis and even food allergies.

In addition, recent studies have shown that babies in a home with pets are less likely to develop allergies during their lifetime.

#2 Improved cardiovascular health

A heart.

Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that people who own pets have lower rates of heart disease than others. This includes lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, lowering triglycerides

Levels and fewer cardiovascular complications overall.

#3 Psychological development

A brain.

Pets in the home help young children develop compassion, responsibility and other social skills. Including children in the responsibility of caring for a pet can help increase these skills. Pets are also an emotional stabilizer for children, helping them self-soothe and manage their emotions in a healthy way.

Pets have also been shown to help children with autism learn and develop better than those without pets.

#4 Support for teenagers

A teenager.

In addition to the other benefits, teenagers benefit greatly from having a loving third party in the home. When teens feel like they can’t talk to a family member or another adult, they can often confide in a pet or at least feel like they have someone to support them no matter what. Teens who have pets also get more exercise, contributing to their mental health.

#5 Routine management

A pet bird.

Having a pet means you are willing to take on more responsibilities. These include feeding, grooming, walking, social bonding, playing, teaching and more. Pets often require the same activities to occur at the same time every day. This can help people who have trouble maintaining a routine because they now have a living being who relies on them to be accountable.

#6 Improving heart health

A dog.

Having a pet unconsciously relaxes your heart, which reduces the strain on it and your entire cardiovascular system. People with pets have more frequent moments of slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and more stable heart rates.

#7 Social encouragement

Dog out.

Adopting a pet also means you take the opportunity to take them on walks, dog parks, doctor’s appointments and other places where simply having a pet will naturally encourage conversation with other owners of pets.

#8 Exercise

A dog.

On average, people who own dogs walk 30 minutes more each week than people who don’t have dogs. Those with more active dogs will need to walk or run more often. And even those without an active dog will need to take on more activities and chores than others, keeping them more active throughout the day.

Additionally, having an animal to interact with regularly has been shown to help people manage their eating disorders.

#9 Soothing effects

A dog.

Having a beloved companion of any species increases the level of oxytocin in our brain and also reduces the level of cortisol (the hormone that causes stress).

Purring a cat has been shown to be more effective at reducing stress than medication, and just having a fish tank in the home has an immediate and noticeable effect on stress levels.

#10 Help with depression

A cat.

There is scientific evidence that having a pet prevents people from feeling isolated and withdrawn during difficult times. Pets can and will notice when their owners are feeling down and will try to cheer them up and still ask for their regular activity or bonding time.

This effect was particularly visible in people over 65 years of age.

#11 Extended life expectancy

A dog.

Nursing homes regularly use dogs and cats for all the reasons listed above. As our health begins to decline, pets can help reduce the effects of old age and extend our lives. There are many different types of therapy that use animals, but just having an animal that we are even slightly connected to can increase our life expectancy significantly.

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