Adopting a Pet Can Be Good For Your Health

Jack L. Stephens, DVM - Sep 30, 2009

Scientific proof is now available that documents what pet owners have known for years; pets make us feel better.  Not only do pets help us to feel better they improve our health in the following ways:

• Decrease your blood pressure
• Reduce your blood levels of cortisol, our stress hormone
• Increase your blood levels of oxytocin our feel good hormone
• Increase your levels of prolactin our bonding hormone
• Increase your blood levels of endorphins our exhilaration hormone
• Prevent loneliness
• Increase blood levels of serotonin a natural antidepressant
• Increase our levels of pain tolerance and wound healing; decreasing hospital stays
• Increase levels of neurotransmitters at our nerve endings
• Allow us to express our feelings without judgment
• Raise self esteem
• Social lubricant to meet and greet others
• Heart attack victims with pets live longer
• Walking a dog improves weight loss over traditional methods
• Much more

Adopt a pet from your local shelter or rescue group and you may feel better as a result.

Jack L. Stephens DVM

Category: Pet Adoption

Tags: weight loss blood pressure pets good for your health hormones