Being a pet owner comes with a lot of responsibility. However, there are a number of benefits that can be reaped from owning a pet. Below are some of the ways that you can benefit from owning a pet:
Reduce The Risk Of Allergies, Asthma And Eczema
Allergies occur when the body produces antibodies that cause inflammation. If the inflammation occurs in the airways, then asthma develops. Eczema occurs when inflammation develops in the skin. Many people with children are reluctant to get pets because of allergies. However, studies have shown that children who are exposed to pets during infancy are less likely to have allergic reactions in adulthood. Scientists believe that early exposure to allergens help desensitizes the immune system to them.
Reduced Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that simply owning a pet can help reduce blood pressure. Researchers have also shown that owning a cat or dog can reduce the blood pressure response to mental stress. The hypertension medication was not able to do that.
Stronger Heart
People who own a pet are less likely to die one year after a heart attack. There was a study done that compared non-pet owners to pet owners. The pet owners had a one percent chance of dying within a year of their heart attack, and the non-pet owners had a seven percent chance of dying.
Improved Fitness
Fitness experts recommend that people get at least 150 minutes of physical activity in per week for optimal health. People who own pets are much more likely to meet that requirement. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that dog owners were 34 percent more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity. Dog owners walk an average of 19 more minutes per week.
Lower Your Cholesterol
A pet can help lower your cholesterol. In fact, they can potentially help lower your cholesterol by five points. Researchers do not know exactly how pets lower your cholesterol. However, they do believe that pet owners are more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Improve Mood
Not only are pets good for physical health, but they are also good for emotional health. People who won pets are more laid back, and they laugh more. That is why pets are often recommended for soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Soldiers who own pets have an easier time entering back into society. They also are less likely to commit suicide.
How To Protect Your Pet’s Health In House
Many people think that mold does not affect their pet’s health. On the contrary, mold can have a negative effect on a dog or cat’s health. Pets are likely to experience the same allergy symptoms that humans experience, such as ear infections, runny nose and sneezing. They may also experience increased anxiety.
The good news is that there are several things that you can do to protect your pets from mold. You should call in a professional service and have them inspect your home for mold. You should also consider using a dehumidifier in your home because that can help prevent mold growth. You can control outdoor mold growth by keeping your lawn cut. However, you should try to keep your pets in the home as much as possible.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
Ben Sawyer is an avid blogger and also a content contributor for moldbusters. Here Ben explained all of benefits about having pets.
