The Benefits Of Having Pets:

According to the Insurance Information Institute, roughly 67% of American households have pets (2020). For those households that do not have pets, you might want to reconsider.

We all know that warm and fuzzy feeling our cuddly critters give us, but did you know that having a pet promotes many health aspects? In our article, we will outline different ways that our pets help to boost our health.

According to the CDC, at least four key ways in which our cuddly critters help increase our health (2019). One of the unknown benefits of having a pet is that it boosts mental health.

Benefits To Your Mental Health:

For many people who do not have family members or friends that live close by, pets can help decrease loneliness and boost overall mood. Besides promoting a positive attitude, maintaining a positive outlook has improved immune function in recent studies. So, next time you're feeling down, look to your furry friend because they have more of an impact on your health than you think!

Increased Levels Of Physical Activity:

Depending on what kind of pet you have, your activity levels will increase. Most pets require regular walks outside or a trip to the park, while others may only need you to chase them/play with them around the house. No matter what kind of pet you have, your activity levels will increase, which provides an array of health benefits to your body.

Benefits To Your Blood Pressure And Cholesterol:

As stated above, having a pet often increases your activity levels. Whether you are playing with/chasing after your pet, an increase in physical activity can strengthen cardiovascular function, resulting in lower blood pressure.

Similarly, playing with your pet can help increase HDL Cholesterol and decrease LDL Cholesterol. This change is caused by your body's skeletal muscle's ability to metabolize lipids (CDC, 2019).

What We Hope You Learned:

Sometimes, we take the people in our lives for granted, and the same goes for our furry (or not so furry) friends. So, just as you need to make time for your family and friends, it is essential to make time for your pets. Not only can having and spending time with your pets boost your mood, but it can also increase your health on a physiological level.

As always, stay wonderful and stay healthy!

References:

CDC. (2019). About Pets & People. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/index.html

Insurance Information Institute. (2020). Facts + Statistics: Pet statistics. Retrieved from https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-pet-statistics