​Why Pets Make Life 
(and Your Health) So Much Better!

I think we can all agree on one thing: pets are the best.
That feeling when you walk in the door and your pet greets you like you’re the most exciting thing that’s happened all day? Pure magic. It truly is a symbiotic relationship where we provide benefits to each other. Whether you have a furry friend, a feathery companion, or a scaly sidekick, the truth is: pets just make life better. And luckily for us, we get to celebrate that goodness on Friday, April 11th—National Pet Day!

 

Beyond being cute, cuddly, and occasionally chaotic, pets play a huge role in our overall wellbeing. Many of us may have heard about the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of pets.

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Here are just a few examples of the health benefits animals provide for humans:

• Lower your blood pressure:

  • Petting an animal helps you relax by lowering stress hormones and boosting feel-good ones, which naturally helps keep your blood pressure in check.

• Move more:

  • Having a dog means daily walks—rain or shine—so you're getting in movement whether you planned to or not.

• Support heart health:

  • Owning a dog has been linked to better heart health, thanks to the combination of activity, companionship, and reduced stress.

• Ease loneliness and depression:

  • Caring for a pet gives you purpose, lifts your mood, and can even help you connect with other people.1

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We may not realize what exactly is happening inside our bodies, but we do know what it feels like to experience joy, comfort, and connection with our pets.

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So, I wondered. What happens in our brain when we spend time with our animals?

 There actually aren’t a lot of studies on this specific area of study but one study found that prefrontal brain activation in healthy subjects increased with the rise in interaction with a dog.2

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This area of the brain is involved in controlling our emotions, personality, judgment, self-control, muscle control and movements, memory storage and more.3  I don’t know about you but that sounds like a pretty important area of the brain to keep active and stimulated. So, what does this mean? The more interaction with dogs, the more our brains light up. Dogs aren’t just taking up all the space in your bed, they are helping you manage your emotions and judgements.

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Another study concluded that pet ownership resulted in better brain health with the biggest effect being for dog owners.4 So, if you have always wondered (or strongly debated) “who’s better” – dogs or cats, I think this settles it! Sorry, cat people but I knew this all along.

 

Seriously though, no matter what type of pet you have, give them some extra love this National Pet Day. Because not only are they adorable companions, but they’re also helping you live a healthier, smarter, and more emotionally connected life.

 

Tera Moorehead is the owner of Peach of Health, LLC. With dual master’s degrees in nutrition and education, as well as a national board certified health and wellness coach, Tera shares her passion for health and wellness through various programs and services.

 

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-friend-who-keeps-you-young

2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9534402/#pone.0274833.ref012 

3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24501-frontal-lobe

4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9630635/