It may be hard to imagine that adding the duties of caring for a pet can actually reduce your stress instead of adding to it, but it is often true. Pets benefit people in so many ways that you can end up getting far more than you might ever have expected from the relationship.
Physiological Benefits of Pet Ownership
Scientists have known for decades that sharing your life with pets can help reduce stress. One of the primary physical ways that pets seem to benefit people is by helping to reduce blood pressure. Several reports, including a 3-year study with over 5000 participants, have suggested a causal link between lower blood pressure and having a pet.(1)
One study also suggested a link between pet ownership and a reduction in incidents of dangerous spikes in blood pressure caused by stress that can, over time, lead to a heart attack by weakening blood vessels.(2)
Some research also indicates that heart attack patients survive longer if they are pet owners.(3)
Psychological Benefits of Pet Ownership
Most of us have to do very little to find that our overall moods are improved by sharing our lives with a furry friend. It’s difficult for even the most disgruntled pet owner to remain so after receiving a warm welcome from a pet. Pets can also distract us from dwelling on our stress because of their fun and entertaining antics.
Pets can provide emotional and social support. With their ability to share unconditional love, pets don’t require that we always be in a good mood. They love us even when we’re grouchy. Pets provide a topic of conversation with friends, neighbors, and other pet lovers. Having a pet can also stave off loneliness by providing us with a non-judgmental friend to share the events of the day with. Studies indicate that nursing home patients benefit from visits with dogs,(2) and Alzheimer’s patients with pets at home have fewer episodes of acute anxiety.(3)
Physical Benefits of Pet Ownership
Most people know that exercise can help reduce stress. Pets can give us a reason to get exercise when we otherwise might sit on the couch. Dog owners who regularly walk their pets benefit from this simple exercise.(2) Like sharing a walk with a good friend, walking your dog or taking him to a local dog park provides both of you with stress-reducing, health-improving exercise.
Pets help reduce stress in numerous ways. From the physical benefits of exercise to the simple emotional support of having a sympathetic ear always available to listen, they are fuzzy relaxation-triggers.
Works Cited
- Hering, Christina. Health Benefits of Companion Animals. Health Insights Today: A Service of the Cleveland College Foundation. [Online] 2008. [Cited: October 28, 2009.] http://www.healthinsightstoday.com/articles/v1i2/pdf/featured_animals.pdf.
- Elizabeth Scott, M.S. How Owning a Dog or Cat Can Reduce Stress. About.com Health Disease and Condition: Stress Management. [Online] September 6, 2009. [Cited: October 28, 2009.] http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/petsandstress.htm.
- Davis, Jeanie Lerche. 5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health. WebMD: Hypertension/High Blood Pressure Health Center.. [Online] 2004. [Cited: October 28, 2009.] http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/features/health-benefits-of-pets.
Wow, I like how you suggested that having pets around you can provide emotional support that can ward off stress. My boss is experiencing burnout as of late, and he’s looking for advice on how to ward it off. Maybe he should consider looking for someone who’s selling puppies around his area.