The Science Behind Pet Ownership and Reduced Blood Pressure: How Your Furry Friends Help Lower Stress

The Science of Why Having a Pet Lowers Blood Pressure: Your Furry Friends Really Do Make You Feel Calmer

At Petindiaonline.com, we are not only pet enthusiasts, but also believers in the powerful health benefits that our furry friends impart on us. Despite a common understanding that pets provide comfort and companionship, few realize the potential of animals to significantly improve symptoms and overall health for individuals with heart disease.

Studies show what pet owners already know: their pets help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and support heart health. But how, exactly, do they accomplish this? This story is part of a Times


series on the great streaming wars of 2019.Pet ownership and lower stress: Some interesting new findings and what the science says.

Stress and Blood Pressure- The Silent Link

Long term stress is one of the principle causes of elevated blood pressure (Hypertension). When your body is under stress, it releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, expanding hearts while contracting blood vessels. Over time, that constant pressure can raise your baseline blood pressure, leaving you at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke and other health problems.

That’s where your pet makes a difference — not just through companionship, but as a natural stress reliever


and a blood pressure regulator.

Building a Hormone-Friendly Ecosystem: How Pets Affect Oxytocin and Cortisol

One of the most interesting effects of pets is that they work on the hormonal balance of our body. Stroking, playing with or even being near animals can result in the following physiological responses:

More Oxytocin (The ‘Cuddle’ Hormone)

Oxytocin induces love, trust, and social bonding. Physical contact, like when petting a dog or looking a cat in the eye, releases oxytocin:

Lower anxiety

A calmer heart rate

Improved emotional resilience

Elevated oxytocin is related to lowered blood pressure and better emotional stability.

Lowers the Stress Hormone Cortisol

Cortisol, in the long-term


elevated, is poisonous to your cardiovascular system. Studies show that pet owners have less of the harmful stress-induced cortisol and lower blood pressure than people who do not own pets. It’s true some studies even show that pet owners bounce back more quickly from stress when their pet is around than when they’re with a room full of people.

Increased Heart Rate Variability (HRV) If you want to learn more about Heart Rate Variability (HRV) check out this book.

Heart rate variability is a measure of the variability in time between heart beats – a marker of cardiovascular health and stress resilience. Higher HRV


indicates a calm and an adaptive system of the nervous. Studies have proven that being around pets can improve HRV, which means less stress and a healthier heart.

The Power of Touch: Why Play Therapy Works With Your Dog

Touching animals has been shown to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that produces a relaxing or calming response in your body, the so-called “rest and digest” response. In addition to being a mind soother, stroking a cat or dog:

Lowers your heart rate

Encourages muscle relaxation

Reduces blood pressure in minutes

It’s so strong, in fact, that hospitals and nursing


homes are using therapy dogs to help relax patients ahead of a medical procedure.

Science: What Research Reveals

And there is good evidence that pets can lower blood pressure, doctors point out. Here are a few highlights:

Researchers at the University of Buffalo, for example, determined that people with high blood pressure had much smaller increases in blood pressure spikes when they were told their pet was nearby.

The American Heart Association noted that pet ownership more largely, dogs, is associated with a lower a risk of cardiovascular disease.

A study published in the journal Hypertension revealed that as little as 10 minutes with an animal can help lower a person’s blood pressure over time.

These findings are so remarkable that some providers of health care advise the inclusion of pet "ownership" or animal mascots in the general therapy of hypertension and stress-related illness.

Daily Report: Your Daily Routine: Pets Encourage Healthier Habits

In addition to the hormonal effects, pets also have an impact on lifestyle choices that improve heart health and lower blood pressure.

More Exercise

Dog owners especially are improving cardiovascular health by walking and incorporating quality playtime into their routines. Even light exercising decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure with time.

Improved Sleep Quality

Soothing properties of pets could lead to better sleep, which is associated with healthy blood pressure. A no brainer for most pet owners sleeping in the same bed or next to their pets and report deeper, more restful sleep.

Social Connection

Walking your dog or going to pet meet-ups fosters socialization, a great way to help keep stress at bay and emotional health supported.

Companion Animals Provide Emotional Support, But Also So Much More

The emotional solace pets provide is not to be underestimated. For those suffering from anxiety, PTSD and depression pets can bring so much support and love. This stability can greatly reduce baseline stress levels, resulting in better physical and mental health outcomes — and better regulation of blood pressure.

Some Feedback Thermometers Use Animal Intuition

Intuitively, animals react to human stress. A dog might nuzzle you if you’re anxious, or a cat might sit beside you during periods of stress. These automatic responses support conscious awareness and emotional regulation.

Your pet’s calm has the power to even affect many of the physiological mechanisms contributing to anxiety and reduce stress markers such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, creating a cycle of relaxation.

Pet Therapy for hypertension and Rehabilitation

Today, animal-assisted therapy is used in clinical settings to help people recover from heart surgery, stroke or other cardiovascular problems. There is evidence that even brief exposure to therapy animals can:

Lower blood pressure

Reduce the rate of readmission to the hospital

Improve overall recovery time

Though pets should never replace medicine or treatment, they are a valuable adjunct therapy.

Considerations and care for hygiene and safety

To make the most of your pet while reducing the risk to your health, there are a few simple steps to follow:

Routine vet exams for a clean bill of health and freedom from parasites.

After touching pets, feeding dishes, or cleaning cat litter.

'Keep bedding clean and make sure regular grooming is instated.

These maneuvers help keep your home clean and heart healthy for both you and your pet.

Closing Thoughts: Your Pet, Your Natural Blood Pressure 

Whether it's the wagging tail of a dog, the soothing purr of a cat or a snuggle with a guinea pig, feeling the love of a companion animal is not only a special experience — it's good for our health. Left unchecked, cortisol levels and their attendant adverse health effects increase -- except when you are in the company of a pet who has the power to lower your blood pressure and prevent you from feeling stressed through the release of oxytocin due to daily wellness habits.

At Petindiaonline.com, we know that every pet has the ability to make life better, not only for their humans, but also for their fellow animals. And they contribute to your well-being in ways no pill or doctor can match. So the next time your pet curls up next to you, just remember: that calming presence may be the best natural therapy your heart ever had.