Animals have had a place in human lives for as we can remember. Dogs were first used to assist in hunting, later as guards of human property and finally became part of the human household as companions. Cats had been domesticated for over 3000 years and birds, for centuries.
Apparently, studies have shown that our furry and feathered friends act as more than just companions, they also have considerable effects on the health of their owners!
Do you ever come home after a long , hectic day tired and stressed out and the sight of your pet just seemed to make everything go away? Well, it seems our animal friends have a sort of stress alleviating "aura".
According to center4research.org;
Companion animals may improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and regulating the heart rate during stressful situations. In a 2002 study, researchers measured changes in heart rate and blood pressure among people who had a dog or cat, compared to those who did not, when participants were under stress (performing a timed math task). People with a dog or cat had lower resting heart rates and blood pressure measures at the beginning of the experiment than non-pet owners. People with a dog or cat were also less likely to have spikes in heart rates and blood pressure while performing the math task, and their heart rates and blood pressure returned to normal more quickly.They also made fewer errors in their math when their pet was present in the room. All these findings indicated that having a dog or cat lowered the risk of heart disease, as well as lowering stress so that performance improved.
Everyday pets like dogs are also being used in the human health sector.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Advocates state that animals can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants.
Guide dogs, also known as seeing eye dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to assist visually impaired people around obstacles or the environment . The dogs have been trained to navigate various obstacles but are not capable of interpreting street signs (obviously), so the human does the directing and the dog gets them there safely, much like the relationship between an aircraft navigator and a pilot which is better than using a cane.
Cats have also not been left out in the human therapy field as they are being trained to offer affection and comfort and are often seen in nursing homes and other human care facilities.
Even something as unlikely as walking a dog has its own benefits. Such simple task could serve as a form of exercise and improves cardiovascular health.
Living with our furry friends often gives us an insight into their eccentric world which always seems to give us a good laugh which I think also has it's own health benefits, no matter how small.
Whether it is pet ownership that gives us cause to exercise, offers an antidote for loneliness, and gives us loving companions to care for, or animal-assisted interventions that improve motivation to participate in treatment and lessen worry, anxiety, and pain, we recognize that animals can influence not just our happiness but also our health.