More physical activity<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIt probably doesn\u2019t come as a surprise that owning a dog requires a little bit of energy. Dogs have to be walked and exercised, which means dog owners are out there getting more physical activity than people without dogs. Older people are more likely to take regular walks with a dog than they are with a human, according to one study. Another found that 60% of dog owners who took their dogs for regular walks were considered to get regular moderate or vigorous exercise based on federal standards.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less stress<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSure, it can be stressful to have pets when you are afraid one might be sick or you can\u2019t figure out how to get them to stop breaking your blinds, but overall, pets are known to reduce stress. Cortisol is a hormone activated by stress, and studies have found that being around animals can decrease cortisol levels. For this reason, many offices are starting to allow employees to bring dogs to work, and some universities are letting students borrow dogs during stressful times of the year.<\/li>\n
- \n
Lower blood pressure<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCan you feel your blood pressure start to rise when stress creeps into your life? Along with medications and lifestyle changes, a pet can help with hypertension. A study of stockbrokers found that having a cat or dog helped lower the spikes in blood pressure that happen when a person is stressed. Another study of hospitalized heart patients found that dogs decreased the patients\u2019 blood pressure by about 10% in the left side of their hearts.<\/li>\n
- \n
Lower risk of heart attacks<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits4.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, cat owners! Your little furball could be fighting off heart disease for you. Studies have found that people with cats were 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack. It\u2019s unclear whether the cat\u2019s calming effects make the difference or whether people who choose cats as pets are less at risk for heart disease to begin with. Either way, if you\u2019re a cat person, you\u2019re in luck! (It\u2019s possible that dogs have similar benefits, but the study was only done on cat owners.)<\/li>\n
- \n
Alleviation of depression<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
- \n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits6.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits7.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nIt probably doesn\u2019t come as a surprise that owning a dog requires a little bit of energy. Dogs have to be walked and exercised, which means dog owners are out there getting more physical activity than people without dogs. Older people are more likely to take regular walks with a dog than they are with a human, according to one study. Another found that 60% of dog owners who took their dogs for regular walks were considered to get regular moderate or vigorous exercise based on federal standards.<\/li>\n
Less stress<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nSure, it can be stressful to have pets when you are afraid one might be sick or you can\u2019t figure out how to get them to stop breaking your blinds, but overall, pets are known to reduce stress. Cortisol is a hormone activated by stress, and studies have found that being around animals can decrease cortisol levels. For this reason, many offices are starting to allow employees to bring dogs to work, and some universities are letting students borrow dogs during stressful times of the year.<\/li>\n
- \n
Lower blood pressure<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nCan you feel your blood pressure start to rise when stress creeps into your life? Along with medications and lifestyle changes, a pet can help with hypertension. A study of stockbrokers found that having a cat or dog helped lower the spikes in blood pressure that happen when a person is stressed. Another study of hospitalized heart patients found that dogs decreased the patients\u2019 blood pressure by about 10% in the left side of their hearts.<\/li>\n
- \n
Lower risk of heart attacks<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, cat owners! Your little furball could be fighting off heart disease for you. Studies have found that people with cats were 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack. It\u2019s unclear whether the cat\u2019s calming effects make the difference or whether people who choose cats as pets are less at risk for heart disease to begin with. Either way, if you\u2019re a cat person, you\u2019re in luck! (It\u2019s possible that dogs have similar benefits, but the study was only done on cat owners.)<\/li>\n
- \n
Alleviation of depression<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
- \n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSure, it can be stressful to have pets when you are afraid one might be sick or you can\u2019t figure out how to get them to stop breaking your blinds, but overall, pets are known to reduce stress. Cortisol is a hormone activated by stress, and studies have found that being around animals can decrease cortisol levels. For this reason, many offices are starting to allow employees to bring dogs to work, and some universities are letting students borrow dogs during stressful times of the year.<\/li>\n
Lower blood pressure<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nCan you feel your blood pressure start to rise when stress creeps into your life? Along with medications and lifestyle changes, a pet can help with hypertension. A study of stockbrokers found that having a cat or dog helped lower the spikes in blood pressure that happen when a person is stressed. Another study of hospitalized heart patients found that dogs decreased the patients\u2019 blood pressure by about 10% in the left side of their hearts.<\/li>\n
- \n
Lower risk of heart attacks<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, cat owners! Your little furball could be fighting off heart disease for you. Studies have found that people with cats were 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack. It\u2019s unclear whether the cat\u2019s calming effects make the difference or whether people who choose cats as pets are less at risk for heart disease to begin with. Either way, if you\u2019re a cat person, you\u2019re in luck! (It\u2019s possible that dogs have similar benefits, but the study was only done on cat owners.)<\/li>\n
- \n
Alleviation of depression<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
- \n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nCan you feel your blood pressure start to rise when stress creeps into your life? Along with medications and lifestyle changes, a pet can help with hypertension. A study of stockbrokers found that having a cat or dog helped lower the spikes in blood pressure that happen when a person is stressed. Another study of hospitalized heart patients found that dogs decreased the patients\u2019 blood pressure by about 10% in the left side of their hearts.<\/li>\n
Lower risk of heart attacks<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, cat owners! Your little furball could be fighting off heart disease for you. Studies have found that people with cats were 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack. It\u2019s unclear whether the cat\u2019s calming effects make the difference or whether people who choose cats as pets are less at risk for heart disease to begin with. Either way, if you\u2019re a cat person, you\u2019re in luck! (It\u2019s possible that dogs have similar benefits, but the study was only done on cat owners.)<\/li>\n
- \n
Alleviation of depression<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
- \n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nGood news, cat owners! Your little furball could be fighting off heart disease for you. Studies have found that people with cats were 40% less likely to have a fatal heart attack. It\u2019s unclear whether the cat\u2019s calming effects make the difference or whether people who choose cats as pets are less at risk for heart disease to begin with. Either way, if you\u2019re a cat person, you\u2019re in luck! (It\u2019s possible that dogs have similar benefits, but the study was only done on cat owners.)<\/li>\n
Alleviation of depression<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
- \n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nYou\u2019ve probably realized that your pets can make you smile when you\u2019re just feeling a bit down, but even those of us suffering with diagnosed depression can reap these mood-lifting benefits. The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes animal-assisted therapy as a treatment for depression and other mood disorders because pets can have a positive effect on depression in a number of ways. A pet requires its owner to remain active and can help him or her feel less isolated from society. A pet also remains a trusted companion, even when its owner withdraws from friends and family.<\/li>\n
Allergy prevention<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
- \n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nA seven-year study of almost 500 children found that children who were exposed to dogs and cats as babies were half as likely to have allergies and risk factors for asthma as they grew up than those who had no pets. Infants with more than one pet in the home had the lowest risk of allergies. So even though you might have to be cautious with pets around babies to make sure the pets don\u2019t become aggressive with them, having those pets around could benefit your child in the long run.<\/li>\n
Low blood sugar detection<\/a>:<\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
- \n
Less risk of stroke<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have diabetes, you know how dangerous a drop in blood sugar can be. While many people have their blood sugar under control, those who often have unexpected changes could get a life-saving health benefit from having a dog. There are specially trained dogs who have been taught to detect drops in blood sugar by smelling. When they smell a change, they can alert the person before it becomes dangerous.<\/li>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.insurancequotes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8petbenefits8.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n