As a dog owner, you know the benefits of owning a dog are unending – the cuddles, the kisses, the playing, the love! It doesn’t get better than owning a dog. But did you know that owning a doggo can also bring you medical benefits?
It’s true! Your pup can actually lower your blood pressure.
Dog owners are less likely to get heart disease, and because of the factors that go into owning dogs, they’re likely to have a lot less health problems!
Why is this?
For lots of reasons! Typically, you’ll walk more when you own a dog, which is super heart-healthy. There’s also the stress-soothing aspect of it – petting your pup feels good and helps you to relax and release tension, lowering that pesky blood pressure. It also puts you in a better mood, keeps you social and lowers your risk of stroke, heart disease, and even premature death.
Check out some of the other ways dogs can reduce your blood pressure
, signs your dog might be giving you that he can help, and even the science behind why dogs are blood pressure reducers!
Signs Your Dog Can Sense Your Blood Pressure
While it’s pretty cool that your dog can help you lower your blood pressure, another neat thing about dogs is that they can sense when your blood pressure is increasing, spiking, or dropping. Dogs are being trained now to detect changes in human blood pressure, and often can even detect drastic changes in blood sugar – a great resource for diabetic people. They can even tell when their humans are going to have seizures.
What signs might your dog be giving you to let you know that your blood pressure is off?
It starts with some strange behavior on your pup’s part. Cardiac alert dogs can be trained to let you know about your blood pressure levels and typically they’ll become far more alert, pin their ears up, stand the hair on their back up, and stiffen their tails up.There are also notable signs you might be giving off that your blood pressure is lower because of your dog – signs you might not even notice. For example, you might have more energy, feel refreshed throughout the day, have lower blood pressure scores when you visit your doctor for check-ups, and feel healthier overall.
Body Language
Like we said before, dog’s don’t just help you lower your blood pressure, they’re also pretty in tune with when your blood pressure is dangerously low or high. Here are a few signs that they might be giving you to let you know there’s something going on with your blood sugar:
– Alert
– Barking
– Jumping Up
– Pacing
– Back Hair On Edge
– Ears Up
– Stiff Tail
Other Signs
There are other signs your dog might be giving you to let you know that there’s something up with your blood pressure. Look for things like:
– Acting On Edge
– Holding Their Tail Up
– Begging For Your Attention
– Out-Of-Character Loud Barking
– Frantic Or Anxious Behavior
Historical Reasons Dog Can Lower Blood Pressure
There are a lot of different factors that go into how your dog can help lower your blood pressure. In fact, some of the historical reasons for this are pretty obvious. Since we started immersing dogs into our daily lives, we have had to learn how to properly accommodate their needs.
For example, owning a dog means more walking around, physical activity, and playing. All this exercise is great for your heart and your blood pressure. Studies even show that dog owners with serious, abnormal heart rhythms live longer than people with the same heart issues that don’t have pets.
More than that, dogs put people in better moods and make them feel better, reducing stress. That’s a huge factor in blood pressure – stress reduction! Petting your dog feels good and can help you release a relaxation hormone that cuts down your stress hormones.
The Science Behind Heart Health and Dogs
There’s plenty of scientific evidence and research suggesting that human-dog interactions have can major impacts on blood pressure and human cardiovascular health. In PubMed.gov, a study was published that states that talking to and petting a dog are accompanied by lower blood pressure in people as opposed to human conversation.
To study this, about 60 peoples’ neural attitudes toward dogs were studied with factors such as tactual, verbal, and visual when dealing with canines. The test subjects’ heart rates were all recorded during the experiment when dealing with dogs, and it was noted that touching and talking to the dogs appeared to be a major factor in a blood pressure reduction.
How to Train Your Dog – and Yourself – to Stay Heart-Healthy
Your dog can provide you with a ton of natural benefits for lowering your blood pressure and staying healthy – but they can’t do it all. It’s important that you’re training yourself to keep your blood pressure low, and training your dog to keep his, too.
Some of the best ways to do this are by making sure you and your dog are taking lots of walks together. Keep your dog on a strict walking and playing schedule to make sure the both of you are getting all the exercise you could need.
Practice keeping your pooch happy and healthy, too. The happier your dog is, the easier it is for you to also reap the healthy benefits your dog can offer you! Remember to feed the both of you a high-quality, species-appropriate diet.
“Keeping your pup happy and healthy for a heart-healthy life.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Regular exercise with your dog can help lower your blood pressure and improve your overall health. Make sure to take your dog on walks and engage in physical activities together.
2️⃣ Pay attention to your dog’s behavior as they may be able to sense changes in your blood pressure. Signs such as alertness, raised ears, and stiffening of the tail can indicate potential issues with your blood pressure.
3️⃣ Interacting with your dog, such as petting and talking to them, can have a positive impact on your blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health. Take the time to bond with your dog and enjoy the stress-reducing benefits they provide.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. How can owning a dog help lower your blood pressure?
– Owning a dog can help lower your blood pressure by encouraging regular exercise, reducing stress levels, and promoting a better mood.
2. What are some signs that your dog might be sensing changes in your blood pressure?
– Signs that your dog might be sensing changes in your blood pressure include increased alertness, raised ears, raised hair on their back, and a stiff tail.
3. What are some other signs that your dog might be giving you to indicate that your blood pressure is lower?
– Some signs that your dog might be giving you to indicate lower blood pressure include having more energy, feeling refreshed throughout the day, lower blood pressure scores during check-ups, and an overall feeling of improved health.
4. What are some historical reasons why dogs can help lower blood pressure?
– Dogs can help lower blood pressure through increased physical activity, such as walking and playing, and by reducing stress levels through companionship and affection.
5. What does scientific research suggest about the impact of human-dog interactions on blood pressure?
– Scientific research suggests that talking to and petting a dog can lead to lower blood pressure compared to human conversation. The study also indicates that touching and talking to dogs play a significant role in reducing blood pressure.
