NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL PET AWARENESS MONTH ~ The unconditional love and devotion pets show their owners is undeniable. Pet owners know how much their furry friend improves their quality of life. We include them in our family portraits, make room for them on our beds, tell them our deepest secrets and miss work when they’re sick. And whether they paw, fly or swim their way into our hearts, pets are an important part of our lives. But it’s not all about unconditional love—although that actually provides a wellness boost, too. On an emotional level, owning a pet can decrease depression, stress and anxiety; health-wise, it can lower your blood pressure, improve your immunity and even decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. But the positives don’t stop there. Even if you can’t adopt a pet just now, you can help make life better for homeless animals and yourself by volunteering with your local shelter or rescue organization. There are many animals that can still benefit from your love, and you will feel the benefits, too. Our focus this month is how pets improve your life. Our November focus group is Clermont Pets Alive clermontpetsalive.org/ BROUGHT TO YOU BY ADVOCACY & EDUCATION ~ SK Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. They make you smile: When your dog does cute things like rolling on his back or putting a paw up on your arm, he can make you smile, which in turn triggers neurotransmitters to fire. These pet-time smiles can raise your serotonin and dopamine levels, which are nerve transmitters associated with calmness and happiness. Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets. •Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without. •Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets. Help for Lowering Cholesterol To manage cholesterol, doctors still recommend that you follow guidelines regarding diet, exercise, and medication. But owning a pet has the potential of making it easier to avoid the dangers of cholesterol. Researchers have noted lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people who own pets compared to people who dont. However, this could be attributed to lifestyle factors of pet owners Pets Are Natural Mood Enhancers It only takes a few minutes with a dog or cat or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed. Your body actually goes through physical changes in that time that make a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered. And the production of serotonin, a chemical associated with well-being, is increased. Reducing stress saves your body wear and tear. Do your pets help you manage stress?
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 13:30:00 +0000
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