A pet can bring great happiness to a home and family, and studies suggest it also has many benefits for our physical and mental health. Specifically, raising a pet has been found to be highly beneficial for heart health, and this happens through various ways that collectively strengthen the heart and keep us healthy. How does it work, and what exactly does a dog, cat, or any other pet we raise do to help us keep our heart healthy? Here are 5 ways you may not have heard of or thought about, but have been scientifically proven!
1. Pets reduce stress and slow the heart rate
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, those who raise a pet experience lower levels of cortisol, the hormone released in our body in response to stress. High cortisol levels lead to high blood pressure, so a pet, by simply being around us, helps reduce this risk.
Additionally, a 2020 study showed that pet owners have a lower heart rate than those who do not own pets. While this study focused on dog and cat owners, even watching fish swim in an aquarium has been proven to be calming. Pets also reduce feelings of loneliness, provide companionship, and improve mood, all of which benefit the mind and heart.
2. Pets lower blood pressure
A 2022 review of studiesfound that cat owners had a 42% reduced risk of suffering from high blood pressure compared to those who do not own pets, and dog owners had a 31% reduced risk. The researchers note that the effect of pets on blood pressure was particularly significant during moments when the subjects interacted with them, such as petting them.
The number of interactions between you and your pet also matters. A 2018 study conducted in a nursing home found that elderly people with high systolic blood pressure experienced a significant decrease in their blood pressure values after their third play session with a therapy dog provided to them.
3. Pets increase your physical activity
Those who raise a pet need to be more physically active, and this is especially true for those who own dogs. A 2017 study found that dog owners walk about 22 minutes more than the average person who does not own a dog, and they also spend less time sitting. Additionally, a 2019 studyshowed that dog owners are 4 times more likely to meet the current recommendations for 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, which helps reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 22-25%.
4. Pets encourage us to eat healthier
According to a 2019 studyit turns out that pets even encourage us to eat healthier. While there isn’t necessarily a direct connection, researchers hypothesize that caring for a pet motivates us to take better care of our health, including consuming healthier food. This, in turn, leads to a healthier heart, and if you’re curious to know – these are the 10 dietary regimens recommended for maintaining heart health.
5. Pets reduce the risk of heart attack
An analysis of study results involving over 3 millionpeople found that owning dogs reduces the risk of dying from a heart attack by 65%, and from any issue related to the heart and blood vessels by 31%. The researchers suggest that this connection lies in the fact that dogs require us to be more active, but also in their positive social and psychological effects on us.
In conclusion
Raising a pet is indeed recommended for maintaining heart health. It helps lower blood pressure and the risk of suffering from heart and blood vessel-related diseases, partly by encouraging us to be more physically active, but not only that. Simply having pets around us benefits our heart and overall health, so if you were looking for another way to be healthier, here’s one you might not have considered – adopt a dog or cat, and your life will be happier, better, and healthier!
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