Absolutely! If you have a pet, you know how much you love your little buddy, but you probably didn’t know that your pet has the power to help you literally maintain sanity.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Easley gives you the scoop on pets and mental health below.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Pet?

Pets, especially dogs and cats, have massive benefits for people of all ages. To list just a few benefits, pets can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, and encourage exercise and playfulness.

For children, caring for an animal can help them grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults who live alone. Perhaps most importantly, though, a pet can add an element of unconditional love that can be hard to find among people.

Study-Proven Health Benefits of Pets

• Pet owners over age 65 make 30% fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
• Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
• People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.

Will Pets Have an Effect on My Mental Health?

Yes. Caring for a pet can offer comfort, help ease anxiety and offer sensory stress relief for people who deal with all sorts of daily and life stresses.

Other than petting them and caring for them in the home, pets usually demand more exercise, which in turn will help you get more exercise. Getting daily exercise reduces stress and makes your body feel more relaxed at the end of the day. In addition to getting exercise, pets can also help you get on and maintain a routine by consistently meeting their bathroom and food needs. Having a routine can help both you and your animal feel more relaxed and calm.

Other Mental Health Benefits of Pets

• Can help your social life
• Will reduce loneliness
• People with Alzheimer’s are thought to have fewer anxious outbursts with a pet in the home

Are you feeling under the weather? Visit us at AFC Urgent Care Easley today!