Like a dog it improves the health of the whole family. The scientific studies that confirm this

Anyone who has a dog knows how much love and joy it can bring into our life but perhaps they do not imagine that health also obtains great benefits. In fact, some studies have shown how dogs (and others) are a faithful companion in adventures but also a concrete help for our well-being.



Who has a dog he knows how much love and joy it can bring into our life but perhaps he does not imagine that health also obtains great benefits. In fact, some scientific studies have shown how the dog (and not only) is a faithful companion of adventures but also a concrete help for our well-being.



Having an animal in the house allows you to strengthen the heart and calm the nerves. However, these are just some of the benefits that dogs, cats and other animals have on our body. Science over the past few years has focused on figuring out how much the presence of a 4-legged friend may it be for us beneficial both mentally and physically.

Ma why do animals improve our health? The most accredited theory is the one that believes our furry friends to be able to increase the levels of oxytocin, the so-called love hormone that decreases blood pressure and heartbeat, improves immunity and pain tolerance as well as obviously lowering blood pressure. levels of stress, anger and depression.

But now let's see more concretely what the various scientific researches have noticed on the benefits of having an animal at home:

Index

They relieve allergies and improve the immune system

The immune system's tasks include identifying potentially harmful substances and releasing antibodies to counter them. Sometimes, however, our body's defenses get confused, triggering a reaction in contact with non-dangerous substances and causing an allergic reaction. Previously it was thought that having pets in the home predisposed more to allergies. In fact, the exact opposite has recently been discovered: living with a dog or cat during the first year of life reduces the risk of developing allergies in childhood, it increases the potential of the immune system and also lowers the risk of eczema and asthma.

They help fitness

Having a dog forces you to do physical activity, at least 2 or 3 walks a day to bring your friend to do the needs but also to run and play. Dog owners are therefore very likely to walk and run more than those who do not have pets. A study of over 2000 adults found that those who regularly walk with their dog are less likely to become obese while another research noted that older walkers (between 71 and 82 years old) walked faster and longer if they had a dog with them.



They lower your stress levels

Most of us develop high levels of stress every day from busy life, work, etc. This situation triggers a series of chemical reactions within our body that put it at risk of developing various health problems including cardiovascular disease. Contact with animals seems to be successful counteract stress by lowering cortisol and the other hormones part of the body's response to situations that put it to the test. This keeps heart rate at bay and improves anxiety and fear levels by making feelings of greater calm appear in their place. In the Scottish University of Aberdeen there is even a "puppy room", the room of the puppy, where stressed kids can relax and play with the dogs. This way the nerves relax and the pressure drops.

They improve heart health

Animals give us so much love, it is not so strange that they can also have a great impact on the organ that we consider the basis of this feeling: the heart. According to some studies dog owners have a lower risk of getting heart disease. Even the relationship with dogs can be of benefit even for those patients who already have cardiovascular diseases. In this case, if they own a dog, they are four more likely to be alive after a year and more likely to survive a heart attack. Cats also ensure a similar effect, a study from a few years ago found that cat owners are 40% less likely to suffer from a heart attack and 30% less likely to die from other cardiovascular diseases.


They improve sociability

The four-legged companions also help our sociability, introduce us to new friends and they make us appear more friendly and helpful. One study found that people in wheelchairs who had a dog received more smiles and conversed more with passersby than those who did not have a dog. In another study, college students were asked to watch videos of two psychotherapists talking, once accompanied by a dog and once without. The boys felt more positively drawn towards them and were also inclined to tell them some personal things when they had the dog. Research further shows that women are more willing to give their number to men who have a dog!


Like a dog it improves the health of the whole family. The scientific studies that confirm this

They are precious friends for Alzheimer's patients

Dogs and cats are also very useful for people suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. In fact, there are several assistance programs to help these patients at home, a dog can for example help them perform daily tasks such as taking medications, reminding them to eat, and driving them home if they have strayed too far. In some places of care it is also allowed to enter with their pets or at least receive them on a visit like a real therapy. Studies have shown that 4-legged companions can reduce behavioral problems in patients with dementia improving their mood and increasing their food intake. We had told you the story of the Alzheimer's patient who had started talking again thanks to his dog.

They help children with autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that makes it difficult to communicate and interact with others. Unsurprisingly, animals can help children and teens with these problems as well to relate better to the outside world. One study found that young people with autism talked, cheered and laughed more when piglets were present. It is no coincidence that many have been born in recent years programmi di pet therapy for people with autism, not only cats and dogs are used but also horses, donkeys and even chickens.

They fight depression and raise a good mood

Pets keep us company and at the same time they are able to improve our mood. Their energy, the love they give, the way they relate to us and the ability to keep us busy in daily life are simple ways to keep depression away. Animal therapies for depression and mood disorders get good results.

Post traumatic stress disorders improve

People who have suffered a major trauma, for example survivors of a natural disaster, war, etc. they are particularly vulnerable to a mental health condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies show that unconditional love and the increase ofoxytocin offering the presence of a pet can help curb the problem. There are in fact several programs that help these people by making them interact with dogs or cats.

Like a dog it improves the health of the whole family. The scientific studies that confirm this

They help with cancer therapies

Cancer patients can enjoy the beneficial effects of the animals that help them overcome the trauma but also to improve your health. Preliminary results from a clinical study by the American Humane Association show that dogs not only counteract loneliness, depression and stress in children battling cancer but can also motivate them to eat and better follow therapy recommendations. that is, they stimulate them to participate more actively in their own healing. The same is true for adults.

On the subject you might also be interested in:

  • How the dog improves life: 10 reasons not to do without it anymore
  • Sweet eyes and oxytocin - that's why dogs are like babies
  • Oxytocin: what it is, where it is found and how to stimulate the love hormone
Like a dog it improves the health of the whole family. The scientific studies that confirm this

They improve chronic pain

So many people around the world are living with chronic pain, animals can help in this too. According to a study, 34% of those suffering from chronic pain show, after 10-15 minutes spent with a dog, less pain and a better mood. In another study, those who had undergone joint replacement surgery needed 28% less strong pain reliever treatment after a dog's daily visits than those who had no contact with animals.

In short i benefits of pets are many and some truly amazing!

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