Benefits Of Pet Assisted Therapy
October 5, 2009
Animals are not only your trusted companions, but having a pet at home could also boost your health. Pets are especially helpful in lifting your mood.
Stress and emotional problems could cause physical ailments by disturbing the hormonal balance in the body. Nowadays physicians and psychiatrists often prescribe pet assisted therapy for improving both mental and physical health.
Dogs are widely used in pet assisted therapy. Nonetheless, other pets such as cats, birds, fish, horses and guinea pigs can also be good for your health.
Improves mood
If you are suffering from emotional set back, you can seek the help of your pets to lift your mood. Studies have shown that watching fish swim in the fish tank for about 20 to 30 minutes could relax your mind. Playing with your pet dog or cat can also help to alleviate your stress and anxiety.
Playing or observing your pets helps to relax your mind. As your pets distract you from your brooding, your mind starts to calm down. This helps to lower the level of cortisol, the stress hormone released in your body during stress. Pets can also help to heal depression.
Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
Studies have shown that animal owners suffer less from hypertension, high cholesterol and high triglyceride problems. It has been observed that owning a pet could reduce the risk of dying of a heart attack or stroke. Pets also increase the survival rate of cancer patients.
Improves physical fitness
Dogs can help you in your workouts. They can also act as your exercise companion. Taking your dog for a 30 minutes walk could be a great exercise.
Autism
Pets are useful for autistic children. It has been observed that dogs help to increase the concentration span of autistic children. Pets could also improve social, communication and cognitive skills of children suffering from autism. While traveling outdoors, companion dogs could ensure the safety of autistic children.
Similarly, pets could help children with ADHD to overcome their behavioral problems. Dogs could help children with dyslexia or delayed reading to improve learning skills.
Comments
Got something to say? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.