Why having pets is good for you!

Ask any pet parent and most will agree that pets make life so much better. But did you know that pets also make life healthier?

Ask any pet parent and most will agree that pets make life so much better. But did you know that pets also make life healthier? 

Having a pet has been found to have great benefits to one’s physical, emotional, and mental health. Unconvinced? Here are a few fun facts about the health benefits of pet parenting! 

1. Pets can help you sleep better 

Many pet parents love sleeping next to their pets, which can actually lower one’s anxiety and stress. In fact, John Hopkins Medicine reported that cuddling with dogs can lower cortisol levels (a hormone that’s associated with stress). 

2. Pets can boost your immune system 

Some studies have found that kids are less likely to develop allergies if they’ve had a cat or dog at a young age. Since pets expose us to a wider variety of bacteria, they can help build our immune system and may even reduce risk for developing asthma or eczema. 

3. Pets help us stay active 

Pets keep us on our feet in many ways! From walking them, to playing with them, and even feeding them, you’d be surprised at how much more active your lifestyle gets with a pet around. 

4. Pets teach us empathy 

When you’re responsible for a pet, you’re inherently learning how to care for another living thing. Some have observed that children who grow up with pets not only learn responsibility but also have higher emotional intelligence. 

5. Pets are good for the heart 

While we can’t prove the direct link, one study has noted that pet parenting is associated with a lowered risk of developing high blood pressure. Another study with over 600 patients also found that those with dogs were significantly less likely to have coronary heart disease.

So when someone questions if having a pet is really good for you, you can say that it’s a fact backed by science! 

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