How Your Dog Helps You Live Longer And Healthier

The obvious benefit of having a dog is having someone who loves you unconditionally. However, according to research and experts, being a dog parent helps you live a longer life.

Dog parents live longer because having a dog increases their physical activity. A study from the American Heart Association in 2019 analyzed more than 3 million dog parents and found that dog parents lived longer and healthier than other people.

Dr. Claudine Sievert, a veterinarian in Kansas, says that parenting a dog can reduce obesity. Walking your dog is an excellent exercise that helps prevent or manage health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Being a dog parent can also improve your mental health, thanks to the dog’s unique ability to reduce daily stress. In a study by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1991, researchers found that dog parents reported a significant reduction in minor health problems within the first 10 months of becoming a dog parent.

Research has shown that interacting with your dog increases the production of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers) and oxytocin (the love hormone). You can also lower your blood pressure by petting your dog. A study at the National Library of Medicine found that participants had lower blood pressure while petting a dog than talking to the dog and the experimenter.

Being a dog parent has several positive impacts on your life. Show your dog more love; they deserve it!