{"id":7424,"date":"2018-04-12T08:30:14","date_gmt":"2018-04-12T12:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/healthyhorizons\/?p=7424"},"modified":"2018-04-06T08:57:10","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T12:57:10","slug":"7424","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/healthyhorizons\/stress-busters\/7424\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Activity and Pet Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can Your Pet Help You Be Healthier?<\/h1>\n
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Having a pet, especially a dog, may be good for your health and lower your risk of heart disease. From getting more exercise to lowering stress and blood pressure levels, the benefits of pet ownership may even help you live longer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0The Truth About Cats and Dogs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Studies have shown that having a pet can help increase fitness levels, relieve stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and boost overall happiness and well-being. Pets also provide social support, which is an important factor in helping you stick with new healthy habits.1<\/sup>Besides the obvious value of a good snuggle, what\u2019s the connection between pets and our health? The association is not entirely clear. It may be that healthier people are more likely to be pet owners, or that people with pets tend to be more physically active because they walk and play with them.<\/p>\n

Walking for the Win<\/h2>\n

Most of the research has focused on dogs and physical activity. It\u2019s no surprise that people who walk their dogs are more likely to get the\u00a0recommended amount of physical activity<\/a>\u00a0than those who don\u2019t.2<\/sup>\u00a0One study found that dog-walkers got an average of 30 minutes more exercise a day than non-walkers.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

Try these tips for being active together. Your dog, and your heart, will thank you!<\/h3>\n