Pets May Prove to Be Good for Health
By Tom Herrin
There is a good chance that most of us have had a pet at one time in the past. I always had dogs. We would have several at a time. Even small furry pets can be fun. We have had a few of them as well. In more recent times, research has indicated that those who interact with animals may have better responses to health issues. In one study, it was found that more than 80 percent of those who were dealing with a stress-related issue had a reduction in symptoms after working with a service animal, and 40 percent were able to reduce medication.
Pets May Affect Our Hormones
Our bodies respond to hormones in all kinds of ways. Some of them can make us feel really bad and be ill. Cortisol is one that increases as we are under stress. It seems that levels of this hormone may be reduced when people interact with pets. On the other hand, oxytocin is a hormone that can make us feel good and be happier. Apparently having a pet may help to increase our levels of this hormone. The reactions of the two can make us have better health overall.
Pets May Help Us Exercise
People and animals both need exercise. While some of us don't make enough of a conscious effort to get much exercise, we may see the need for our pets. Even taking regular walks with our pet can get us up and moving. The hope would be that we may enjoy this enough to begin doing so more often. Some people even jog with their pets, and some pets have lots of energy, and we will have to ramp up our activity levels to keep up with them. It may be important to choose a pet who is not too sedentary. If they sit around all of the time, we may end up doing the same.
Pets Can Be Great Company
If you don't like talking to other people, maybe you will enjoy talking to a pet. It can give you the opportunity to talk out your problems or concerns without having to listen to anyone else's advice. They are always happy to see us when we get home. They give us someone to be responsible for as well. We all need to have that opportunity. So the bottom line is that a pet may help both our physical and emotional health. That is good balance.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Oceanside, Calif.