Can petting dogs help reduce stress?

Petting a dog is known to brighten your day and might also benefit your health.

Recent scientific research shows that quick, positive interactions with dogs can have lasting effects.

These interactions reduce stress hormones and boost the ‘love hormone.’

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Short moments spent with a dog can also enhance cognitive function.

Interactions between school kids and dogs improved reasoning and concentration.

These positive effects lasted for months, as discovered by researchers.

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A thorough analysis of scientific studies, as reported by the American Heart Association, showed that owning a dog was linked to a 33 percent lower death risk among heart attack survivors who lived alone.

This “meta-analysis” combined data from 10 studies tracking the health of 3.8 million people, revealing a 27 percent reduced risk of death for stroke survivors who previously lived alone.

Overall, the American Heart Association found a 24 percent reduced death risk for dog owners and a 31 percent decrease in heart attack-related deaths.

Megan Mueller, a psychology professor at Tufts University, suggests dogs are effective at reducing stress and enhancing focus in humans due to their skill in living in the present moment.

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This article was compiled with the help of Artificial Intelligence