Nothing is greater than the joy of a loving four-legged companion coming home after a long, hard day and no one can understand it better than a pet parent. As you walk through the door, a cute ball jumps at you, so you can forget about your worries and stress, right? Ah, and not only stress and worries, pets provide myriad other health benefits to humans. In this article, we will discuss about the health benefits of having a pet.
Un expected Health Benefits of Having A Pet At Home And Also Advantages And Disadvantages Of Having A Pet Essay |
How Pets Can Improve Your Health?
Most people are aware of the joy and happiness that pets bring to our lives, but not everyone is clear about their health benefits. Research and benefits of owning a pet statistics has proven that having a pet can work wonders for improving your physical and mental health.
What are the Health Benefits of Having A Pet?
1. Benefits of pets on your physical health:
- People who have pets are less likely to suffer from high blood pressure because pets help maintain systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Pets help reduce triglyceride and cholesterol levels and, therefore, prevent heart diseases.
- Having a pet can reduce your chances of stroke and heart attack.
- Pets also encourage exercise and help you stay in shape to prevent obesity, therefore preventing obesity-related disorders.
- People who have a pet at home have stronger immunity than people who do not have a pet.
- Therapeutic pets help with pain management and aid in the recovery of critical patients in the hospital.
- Owning a dog reduces a person's risk of premature death by up to 70%.
- Most people are found to make better lifestyle changes after adopting a pet.
2. Benefits of pets on your mental health:
- Pets keep stress, anxiety and depression at bay.
- Spending time with pets can increase dopamine and serotonin transmitters, which are known to have calming and pleasurable properties.
- According to research, interacting with dogs increases the "love hormone" called oxytocin. Oxytocin is a "feel-good" hormone responsible for social bonding, which improves our psychological well-being as we become more social.
- Humans have a basic need for touch and a pet can fulfill this need on a daily basis. Hugging, hugging and touching your furry friend every day can make you feel needed and wanted.
- Most large dogs need a good amount of exercise, and such active dogs keep you on the go, as you have to take them out for walks, exercise, and walks. These workouts boost your mood to a great extent.
- Having a pet encourages you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which helps reduce symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and other mental disorders.
- Therapy dogs can improve the mental well-being of people undergoing cancer treatment or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
- Having pets at home can reduce loneliness, especially if you live alone (and oh, they can even help you get dates!).
"All types of pets are equally beneficial for your health."
Pets, especially dogs and cats, can help people lead happy and healthy lives with their charming and loving personalities. But remember, any pet can be equally beneficial to your health. Rabbits can be the perfect pet for you if you have limited space, while birds can keep your home environment alive. Seeing an aquarium full of fish can help you sharpen your concentration and lower your pulse rate, while horses, snakes, lizards and other exotic reptiles call for fancy pets.
Benefits Of Pets For Senior Citizens At Home
There is no second thought to the fact that growing up can bring loneliness. Family and friends move out and the problems of old age begin. It often becomes difficult to go out, and the feeling of being together at home develops. This is when our guardian angels come to the rescue. Pets are the most reliable source of comfort and companionship and can benefit seniors in countless ways.
- According to a survey, 65% of the elderly do not feel sad and lonely when they are with pets, because they provide a lot of companionship.
- Most senior citizens are reluctant to go out for exercise and walks because of their health issues, but having a pet encourages them to take their furry companions outside, which ultimately helps them stay active.
- Seniors love to take care of their children and grandchildren, but time flies fast and eventually they become lonely. Taking care of a pet can be very satisfying and can help to regain that feeling of nurturing.
- According to research, interacting with pets can lower cortisol, a stress hormone. Low cortisol levels have been found to be associated with lower blood pressure and may aid in stress relief.
- Elderly people with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia are found to have fewer anxiety outbursts around pets and suffer from fewer movement and behavior issues.
Which pets are best for senior citizens?
Although the pet that best matches the personality of a senior person is best for them, consider the following questions before getting a pet for an elderly person.
- What is the living status of a senior citizen? Independent or assisted living?
- What are the financial conditions? Are there any financial limits?
- Is the senior active? Does their activity level match that of pets?
A senior pet can accommodate and afford any type of pet, the benefits for the physical and mental wellbeing of the owner are numerous and go beyond any effort required to care for them. Also, if you are looking for a pet for an elderly person, don't overlook senior pets, as these pets have already past their hyperactive, destructive phase and are very calm and are laid-back, making them the best option to consider.
Benefits Of Pets For Kids At Home
Like adults, children also get many benefits from keeping a pet. Children who grow up in a household that has a pet tend to be more secure, active, and empathetic. According to research, parents who have a pet are more likely to raise emotionally intelligent children than parents who do not have a pet. Here are some more reasons why you should bring a pet home for your child.
- Children who grow up with pets are less likely to develop allergies and asthma.
- Feeding and caring for a pet teaches children responsibility.
- Having a loyal and loving pet can make a child feel important and help them develop a positive image.
- Children become emotionally attached to their pets, which helps them build better relationships in the future.
- Pets can help calm aggressive and hyperactive children.
- Children with pets have to go out more often (for walks, runs) on a daily basis. It ultimately provides many health benefits and keeps kids fit.
- Pets teach children important life lessons, including reproduction, birth, diseases, accidents, death, and grief.
- Having a pet at home can help children deal with separation anxiety, especially in the case of working parents.
- Pets can benefit children with learning disabilities in learning how to manage stress and calm down, allowing them to better cope with the challenges of their disorder.
- Children with autism or other cognitive disabilities may do better with pets because they communicate with non-verbal cues.
- According to research, babies whose mothers spend time around dogs during pregnancy have a lower risk of developing eczema.
Which Pets Are Best For Kids?
While there is no golden rule for choosing a pet for your child, you should consider the following questions before bringing a new pet into your home.
- Will you be able to carve out enough time for both your child and your pet?
- What are your financial conditions?
- Is your child showing a genuine interest in adopting a pet?
Pet ownership can be a chance for children to learn responsibility, dependency, friendship, love and other valuable life lessons that are vital to living a meaningful life.
Benefits Of Pets For People With Disabilities
Aid and service animals are a boon for people with disabilities. They can help a lot more than you imagine. These service animals are extensively trained to help people with disabilities live better lives.
Which Pets Are Best For People With Disabilities?
1. Hearing Dogs
Dogs that have a strong sense of hearing can help people who have died or are hearing impaired. Hearing dogs are well trained to recognize family members' voices, telephone bells, doorbells, smoke alarms, alarm clocks, etc. to guide their owners. They can even lead you to the source of the sounds.
2. Guide Animal
Guide animals are an excellent form of support for blind or partially blind people. They can navigate their operators on their way home or work, protect them from potential hazards, and help them go about their day-to-day activities safely.
3. Service Animal
Service animals can help people with autism, mental disorders, or other physical disabilities in their regular lives. Such animals can help them with everyday tasks such as opening and closing doors or fetching medicine. They can also assist their operators by making a sound or notifying others in case of an emergency such as a seizure or injury.
Adopting A Pet Is A Lifelong Commitment—Check If You're Really Up For It:
After walking through all the benefits our pets offer, anyone can easily get wrapped up in the idea of owning one. However, it is essential to understand that adopting a pet is a major commitment.
If you're not someone who doesn't like pets, owning just one won't miraculously cure your health issues. Keeping a pet will only be rewarding and reassuring for those who love and appreciate animals and can invest time, money, and emotions into keeping their pets happy and healthy.
And, even if you're a "pet-person," it's important to consider the responsibilities that go into it. Consider the following advantages and disadvantages of having a pet when planning to adopt a pet.
Are you ready to spend enough money?
Owning a pet will cost you regular food bills, vet bills, vaccination costs, maintenance costs, licenses, grooming, pet care essentials and what not. If your income is limited, then these expenses can be heavy on you.
Can you devote enough time and attention?
Pets require a lot of attention and care. You cannot just bring one home and leave it alone. To keep pets calm, happy and healthy, it is necessary to give them enough time and attention.
Is your accommodation stable?
Do you have any plans to shift to another state or country in a year or two? Or in the next five years? Will you be able to take your pet with you? Owning a pet is a lifetime responsibility and hence, you should consider these questions before getting a pet.
Can you take care of a pet on a daily basis?
As mentioned earlier, you have to devote enough time in your daily life to take proper care of the pet. If you are a working professional, it will be difficult for you to take care of your pet's food and exercise program. You should only have a pet if you or someone else can take care of it, or unless the pet is suffering from conditions such as depression or obesity.
Does its personality suit your lifestyle?
Your pet should match your personality and lifestyle. If you're an avid traveler and you spend most of your time hiking and traveling, a Chihuahua or a rabbit might not be able to accompany you. Conversely, active and energetic dogs like Rottweilers or German shepherds will not do well if you live in a small studio apartment.
Will you be dealing with your pet's behavioral issues?
Every pet has behavioral problems at some point in their life, so it's important to consider whether you can deal with them. Your pup may chew on your brand new Gucci bag, or your cat may scour your couch by peeing outside the litter box. Ask yourself if you can really let it go if your pet overwhelms you with its behavioral issues.
Before rushing into adoption, ask yourself these questions. You'll be ready to welcome a new furry friend into your home only if your answers are positive!
Not ready to have a pet yet? Here's what you can do...
Even if you feel you are not ready to take on this lifelong responsibility, there are still ways you can enrich your life with pets and take advantage of their benefits to enhance your health and happiness. can.
If you really want to be around pets, you can spend one day each week at a shelter home, or volunteer with animal rescue organizations. Most rescue homes welcome volunteers who help them care for rescued animals. You can also enroll in volunteer work at animal adoption programs organized by them. Or, you can ask to walk your neighbor's dog or occasionally feed your friend's cat.
Spaying a homeless pet until it finds its permanent home is a great option to keep the pet for a few days without any major commitment. Or, you can even prepare to "pet-sit" and take care of your friend's pets while they are out of town!
This way, you will not only get a chance to spend time with the pet, but you will also help yourself by reaping its benefits!