You know that having a cat, dog, hamster, or snake in your life makes you feel good. What you may not know are what are the human heart health benefits to owning a pet.
In addition to their strange and often funny antics and personality quirks, owning an animal offers humans many health benefits. It can lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your triglyceride levels. Some studies have even shown that pet owners are more likely to survive following a hospital stay for a heart attack than those people who do not keep pets. Animal ownership is also said to reduce feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety in people.
Because they enjoy playing, animals bring joy to our lives and remind us of the importance of play. Animal owners are also likely to be more active and spend more time outdoors than those without pets. This is because pets, such as dogs, require daily play and exercise. Even animals that do not require time outside, such as hamsters, can remind us of the importance of daily exercise as we see them running on their wheels.
Pets also help people to maintain ties to others. Often, a conversation can get started based upon something your cat or dog has done. Dog owners out for a walk with
a pet are frequently stopped by others who want to discuss the dog or the breed. Simple exchanges such as these can often result in friendships beginning. Single men have long referred to dogs as chick magnets, because they find that women are more likely to talk with them if they are accompanied by a dog.
Because pets are dependent upon their owners, an intense emotional bond is formed. They can inspire intense feelings in humans when they respond excitedly when you interact with them.