Often when we think of
ways to relieve stress, we consider exercise, meditation, yoga, a massage, or a
vacation, for starters. While all these are viable strategies, perhaps another
should come to mind: getting a new best friend -- in the form of a loving and
ever-loyal pet. Research shows unless you’re someone who really dislikes
animals or are definitely too busy to properly care for one, pets can provide
excellent social support and stress relief, among other benefits -- perhaps
more so than human friends.
Let’s take a look at
some of the main health benefits of dog and/or cat ownership:
Mood enhancers: For
animal lovers, it’s simply impossible to stay in a bad mood when loving puppy
eyes meet yours, or when a furry, purring cat rubs up against your hand.
Research supports the mood-enhancing benefits of pets. Many studies show anyone
with an illness or disease is less likely to suffer from depression if there is
a pet in the household.
Blood-pressure control:
While drugs can generally reduce blood pressure, they aren’t as effective for
controlling spikes in blood pressure due to stress and tension. However, in a recent study,
groups of hypertensive New York stockbrokers who got dogs or cats were found to
have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets. When
they heard of the results, most of those in the non-pet group went out and got
pets!
Exercise partners:
Whether we walk our dogs because they need it, or are more apt to enjoy a walk
when we have companionship, dog owners do spend more time
walking than non-pet owners. Because exercise is good for
stress management and overall health, owning a dog can be credited
with increasing these benefits.
Social support (aka conversation starters):
If we’re out walking a dog we come across as more approachable, giving people
a reason to make eye contact, smile, say hello, and stop for a chat. We meet
more people thus giving us the opportunity to increase a network of friends and
acquaintances; this, in turn, delivers great stress-management benefits.
Unconditional love and companionship:
Pets can be there in ways people cannot. They not only offer love and
companionship, but also enjoy comfortable silences and quiet time as long as
they are able to snuggle and cuddle with us. They are the ideal prescription
for anyone who lives alone. In fact, research shows
nursing-home residents reported less loneliness when visited by dogs than when
they spent time visiting with friends and family. These particular benefits can
reduce the amount of stress experienced in response to feelings of social
isolation and lack of social support from people.
Stress relief:
While we
all know the power of talking about your problems with a good friend who’s also
an excellent listener, recent research shows spending time with a pet may be
even better. When conducting a task that’s stressful, people actually
experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a supportive
friend -- or even a spouse or partner -- was present. Perhaps this is because
our dogs and cats again offer unconditional love -- and don’t ever talk back!
Pets do come with additional work and
responsibility, which can bring its own stress if you do indeed
feel you cannot offer a dog or cat what they need for a quality life. However,
the benefits of having a pet far outweigh the drawbacks for many people. If you
haven’t discovered the joy of pet ownership yet, why not consider having a
four-legged best friend who is always by your side while also being capable of
reducing life’s stressors?
For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact
Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.
Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle at
nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).
