Having a pet is good for the whole family. Kids\u00a0learn how to treat others with kindness and caring,\u00a0and they teach responsibility.\u00a0
Pets can be an important bridge between family\u00a0members as well as help build self-confidence and\u00a0self-esteem in kids.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Increased physical fitness <\/strong> Increased Happiness & Decreased Depression <\/strong> Lower Blood Pressure & Cholesterol <\/strong> Lower Stress & Anxiety\u200b <\/strong> Pets may prevent allergies in children <\/strong> Pets improve relationships<\/strong> Improve socialization <\/strong> Adopt, don't shop <\/strong> Disclaimer: <\/strong>The advice provided is intended for informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.\u00a0\u00a0Consult with your doctor if you\u2019re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.\u200b<\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While the prescription \"visit your local animal shelter\" doesn't show up very often on doctors' prescription pads, maybe it should.\u00a0 Owning a dog or cat reduces stress and chronic\u00a0pain, fights depression and allergies, studies\u00a0show.\u00a0 Having a pet also gives us a reason to get off our\u00a0tushes and head out for a mind-clearing, blood-pumping walk. Here […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":4944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3286"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6488,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286\/revisions\/6488"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Getting exercise with your pet is great for you and\u00a0good for your health.\u00a0
According to research published in the American\u00a0Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, walking dogs has\u00a0been shown to promote engagement in and\u00a0adherence to regular physical activity.
And, getting exercise with a pet is free, unlike gym\u00a0memberships and many organized workout groups\u00a0- it's also fun!
https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6124971\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/puppy-01.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A sense of purpose is important for human beings.\u00a0As is a need to feel connected, which offsets\u00a0loneliness and brings joy.
By providing companionship, pets can combat\u00a0depression, particularly in those who are elderly or\u00a0sick.\u00a0
Individuals\u00a0dealing with post-traumatic stress have\u00a0also been found to have improve mood and health\u00a0outcomes when adding a pet or service dog to\u00a0their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Having a pet is believed to lower blood pressure and\u00a0cholesterol, especially for those with hypertensive or\u00a0high-risk patients.\u00a0
NIH concluded based on several heart-related studies\u00a0that having a pet can decrease cholesterol, blood\u00a0pressure, and triglycerides, which are contributing\u00a0factors for a heart attack.
https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3317329\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pet-03.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whether it\u2019s comfort, cuddles, laughter or physical\u00a0activity, having a pet releases calming endorphins \u2013\u00a0oxytocin.\u00a0
An\u00a0early 2000\u2019s study, researchers in New York found\u00a0that people are less stressed when a pet is with\u00a0them than when a friend or spouse is present.\u00a0
People who use pet therapy while recovering from\u00a0surgery are less likely to use pain medications after\u00a0surgery, according to researchers.
https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12271103\/\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Research in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical\u00a0Immunology contends that having a dog in\u00a0infancy can improve a child\u2019s overall immune\u00a0system, as well as reduce allergies.\u00a0
It's believed that the dander in pet hair might\u00a0serve as a natural immunotherapy for babies\u00a0and children.\u00a0
And that means a stronger immune system, and\u00a0likely less missed days of school.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pet-04.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Young adults with a deep bond to their pets felt\u00a0more connected in their relationships and to their\u00a0communities than those who did not have animals\u00a0in a study published in the\u00a0Journal of Applied\u00a0Developmental Science<\/em>.\u00a0
They were more likely to take on leadership roles\u00a0and tended to be more confident and empathetic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whether physically interacting with other people\u00a0outside or engaging in a conversation about your\u00a0pet, having an animal is a great way to connect with\u00a0others.\u00a0
Studies have found that pet owners are perceived as\u00a0\"friendlier\" by their\u00a0neighbors.\u00a0
There are online socializing platforms and dating\u00a0sites that are now tailored to fit your pet's needs,\u00a0too<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/pets-adoption.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Getting all the above health benefits from a pet\u00a0does\u00a0not\u00a0mean you get out and go buy yourself a puppy or\u00a0kitten from a breeder.\u00a0
Remember to \"adopt,\u00a0don't\u00a0shop\".\u00a0
Every time an animal is adopted, a space opens up in\u00a0the shelter or rescue.\u00a0
When you adopt a cat or dog, not only are you\u00a0saving that animal's life, but\u00a0you are\u00a0also opening up\u00a0a space for another animals' life to be saved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n