INSIGHTS
Owning and being around pets has a positive impact on cardiovascular health.
Mental health outcomes are improved by owning or being around pets.
Studies have shown that people living with HIV or AIDS have much to gain by being around pets or owning them as the pets make them less depressed.
FINDINGS
Some health benefits of owning or being around pets that are supported by scientific research include decreased levels of cortisol, lower blood pressure levels, reduced risk of depression, help with dealing with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, reduced risk of anxiety, increased levels of endorphins and serotonin, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, and a positive impact on psycho social outcomes for people living with HIV or AIDS.
DECREASE OF THE LEVEL OF CORTISOL
Companion dogs are capable of sensing the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the blood.
Interaction with companion animals decreases cortisol in the blood, leading to lower levels of stress.
A study has shown that service dogs have "a profound, positive effect on the basal salivary cortisol secretion of children with autism disorders."
Another study found that service dogs “may lead to an 82% reduction in symptoms among trauma survivors, including those with PTSD.”
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
Companion animals help lower blood pressure levels in humans.
Companion animals, especially dogs, can lower the blood pressure in humans because petting a dog has a calming effect, but also because dog owners tend to walk a lot more than non-owners.
HELP WITH DEPRESSION
Owning a pet can reduce the risk of depression and can also help in managing depression.
Pets can help manage depression through the following mechanisms: soothing presence of pets, unconditional love and acceptance by pets, pets are altering our behavior, pets are a distraction, pets promote touch and pets make us responsible.
HELP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS (SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER)
Pets can help with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and the bipolar disorder.
Pets distract their owners from positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hearing voices. They can also distract from suicidal ideas or from a general sense of feeling alone.
DECREASE OF ANXIETY LEVEL
Pets also aid their owners in managing anxiety levels and reduce the risk of anxiety occurring in the first place.
A study has shown that interaction with pets led to decrease of anxiety level among college students. That is the reason why some college campuses now offer an interaction with dogs and other pets as a way of curbing stress and anxiety.
INCREASE OF ENDORPHIN AND SEROTONIN LEVEL
Companion animals help increase endorphins and serotonin in their owners.
A study has shown that owning and being responsible for a pet affects these two hormones, which are the hormones that have an overall positive impact on human health.
LOWER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Owning a pet or being around one reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
One way pets can help reduce the risk of CVDs is by increasing the level of physical activity among pet owners.
Pets can sense the level of stress of their owners and can appropriately respond to it, helping owners reduce stress levels, but also the risk of CVDs.
HELP TO HIV AND AIDS PATIENTS
Pets have a positive impact on psycho social outcomes for people living with HIV or AIDS.
Companion animals, especially dogs, have a positive effect on people dealing with HIV or AIDS, primarily owing to love and acceptance that these animals provide.
Owning and being around pets has a positive impact on cardiovascular health.
Mental health outcomes are improved by owning or being around pets.
Studies have shown that people living with HIV or AIDS have much to gain by being around pets or owning them as the pets make them less depressed.
FINDINGS
Some health benefits of owning or being around pets that are supported by scientific research include decreased levels of cortisol, lower blood pressure levels, reduced risk of depression, help with dealing with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, reduced risk of anxiety, increased levels of endorphins and serotonin, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, and a positive impact on psycho social outcomes for people living with HIV or AIDS.
DECREASE OF THE LEVEL OF CORTISOL
Companion dogs are capable of sensing the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the blood.
Interaction with companion animals decreases cortisol in the blood, leading to lower levels of stress.
A study has shown that service dogs have "a profound, positive effect on the basal salivary cortisol secretion of children with autism disorders." Another study found that service dogs “may lead to an 82% reduction in symptoms among trauma survivors, including those with PTSD.”
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
Companion animals help lower blood pressure levels in humans.
Companion animals, especially dogs, can lower the blood pressure in humans because petting a dog has a calming effect, but also because dog owners tend to walk a lot more than non-owners.
HELP WITH DEPRESSION
Owning a pet can reduce the risk of depression and can also help in managing depression.
Pets can help manage depression through the following mechanisms: soothing presence of pets, unconditional love and acceptance by pets, pets are altering our behavior, pets are a distraction, pets promote touch and pets make us responsible.
HELP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS (SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER)
Pets can help with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia and the bipolar disorder.
Pets distract their owners from positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hearing voices. They can also distract from suicidal ideas or from a general sense of feeling alone.
DECREASE OF ANXIETY LEVEL
Pets also aid their owners in managing anxiety levels and reduce the risk of anxiety occurring in the first place.
A study has shown that interaction with pets led to decrease of anxiety level among college students. That is the reason why some college campuses now offer an interaction with dogs and other pets as a way of curbing stress and anxiety.
INCREASE OF ENDORPHIN AND SEROTONIN LEVEL
Companion animals help increase endorphins and serotonin in their owners.
A study has shown that owning and being responsible for a pet affects these two hormones, which are the hormones that have an overall positive impact on human health.
LOWER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Owning a pet or being around one reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
One way pets can help reduce the risk of CVDs is by increasing the level of physical activity among pet owners.
Pets can sense the level of stress of their owners and can appropriately respond to it, helping owners reduce stress levels, but also the risk of CVDs.
HELP TO HIV AND AIDS PATIENTS
Pets have a positive impact on psycho social outcomes for people living with HIV or AIDS.
Companion animals, especially dogs, have a positive effect on people dealing with HIV or AIDS, primarily owing to love and acceptance that these animals provide.