When it comes to healthy aging, three essential habits are eating right, getting a good night’s sleep and — owning a pet? It’s true. Science has demonstrated a link between pet ownership and healthy aging, providing social and emotional support and improving quality of life. Read on to learn 10 ways pets can improve our lives.
10 Amazing Things Animals Do for Our Health
Higher Happiness Quotient
A new study finds that having pets can improve our overall wellbeing. People with pets generally exhibit better health and greater satisfaction with life.
More Exercise
Exercise helps with healthy aging and owning an active pet such as a dog helps us get moving every day. More than half of pet owners say their pet helps them get outside more. Regular exercise also helps our heart health and mood.
Social Interaction
Having social connections is essential to healthy aging and having a pet can help. Pets are natural ice breakers. They can help us start up a conversation, find common interests with others and keep us active and engaged.
Companionship
We all need to be needed. Pets give us a strong sense of purpose, as well as affection and companionship, which helps prevent loneliness and social isolation. A survey by HABRI found that 80% of pet owners feel less lonely due to their pets.
Reduce Stress
Do you find yourself smiling at the sight of your furry friend? Interacting with animals has been shown to lower cortisol, a stress hormone, and increase the “love hormone” oxytocin.
Better heart health
Petting an animal or looking at one—even in a photograph—can lower our blood pressure and heart rate. The American Heart Association reports that people with pets are less likely to die of a heart attack than those without.
Boost Independence
Service dogs can help people with disabilities with numerous daily tasks that involve mobility and hearing as well as warn of and respond to seizures. They help improve their partners’ safety and independence for greater quality of life.
Emotional Support
Companion animals can help people of all ages with disabilities such as Autism Sensory Disorder, ADHD and Down syndrome. These therapy pets can also help individuals experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief and anxiety.
Increased Longevity
It’s clear by now that our pets help us feel better. And when we feel better, our bodies and minds are often healthier. Studies show that pets can help people live longer even at an advanced age or with severe illness.
Enhanced brain health
Getting a pet may be a smart move! Research shows that people with pets perform better and faster on tests, have greater focus and remember stories more accurately than non-pet owners. The study also finds that having a pet can reduce one’s brain age by as much as 15 years.
To learn more, read our blog 4 Ways Pets Can Perk Up Your Life.
