Owning a Pet: It Does a Body Good
by Sarah Rumple
on 07/16/2012
Last week, I posted a blog about the health benefits pets have on children. You can read the post here.
That very day, when I arrived home from work, the evening news was discussing new research in the journal Pediatrics which detailed the specific health benefits pet ownership brings for children. And now, a recent article from the Huffington Post includes a slideshow which outlines how pets can not only improve the health of children, but adults as well. Don't miss the slideshow, and read on for nine ways pets help us stay healthy.
- May protect against respiratory infection.
- Make your heart more adaptable.
- Lower workplace stress. (Yes, boss. I must bring my dog to work with me today.)
- Boost self-esteem.
- Calm blood pressure.
- Lower death risk from heart attack.
- Protect against allergies.
- Ward off depression.
- Boost "feel-good" hormones like oxytocin.
It appears scientific research is catching up to what animal lovers have known for years.
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