Being a dog owner is a reward on its own but it can also lead to some surprising health benefits. Dogs not only make your life better, they make you less stressed and more active by being in your life. It’s not really a surprise that science has shown dogs can improve your physical, mental and emotional health.
Health Benefits Of Being A Dog Owner
1. A Dog Owner Falls Sick Less Often
While this may sound strange, having a dog in the house helps you build up immunity against germs. A study has found that exposing our bodies to less diverse mix of germs undermines our entire microbiome. However, dogs expose your immune system to germs that increases your resistance in long run. People with pets are scientifically proven to fall sick less frequently than people with no pets.
Growing up with a dog can also make children more resistant to allergies during their lifespan. A 2017 study showed that children who lived with pets had two bacteria, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, which are known to reduce the risk of common allergies, asthma, and obesity.
2. Dogs Might Be Able To Detect Cancer
Studies have shown that dogs might be able to smell if their owners have cancer. There are numerous stories of dogs that kept sniffing a mole or lump on their owner’s body to warn them of it being cancerous. Today, dogs are even being trained to detect cancer. So not only can your canine companion boost your resistance to common diseases, they can also warn you in time about a life-threatening disease.
3. Better Heart Health
Owning a dog may also lower the risks of a heart condition. In fact, the act of petting a dog has been linked to significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure. A 2017 Chinese study also supported that fact that dog owners have a lower risk of contracting coronary artery disease. In addition, there are studies that have shown that dog owners have slightly lower cholesterol and are more likely to survive a heart attack.
4. Exercise
Dogs need a good deal of physical activity to stay healthy and happy. This means that their owners will be getting plenty of exercise too. A normal dog walk lasts about 30 minutes which lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease for the owner too.
5. Happiness
Dogs make their owners happy. It is as simple as that. Dog owners are less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression as compared to people with no pets. Spending time with dogs while petting or cuddling them can increase your Oxytocin levels that calms down your nervous system.