8 Health Benefits of Owning a Dog

Dogs play a major role in many humans’ lives. Some occasionally tear up the furniture and raise the deposit on your rent, but most of them are also cuddly and lovable, and serve as a built-in best friend.

Did you know, however, that the presence of a dog in your life can lead to better health? It’s certainly true that healthy diet and exercise are two primary components of a healthier lifestyle. But if you’re looking to give your health an extra edge, a dog might be just the ticket.

There’s a reason dogs have become such a ubiquitous fixture in the contemporary lifestyle. For many people, dogs are the equivalent of children; they certainly receive similar treatment.

And at least one reason for that is: Dogs give us surprising health benefits.

1. Allergy Repellants

Some people automatically associate pets with allergies to animal dander. However, studies indicate that most people actually have fewer problems with allergies when dogs are around.

A growing number of studies found that children who grew up with a dog in the home were 33 percent less likely to have pet allergies than those who lived in pet-free homes. Because of the early exposure, their system built an immunity to allergens that helped them stay healthier during allergy season.

2. Mood Boosters

Even just 10 minutes with a dog can make you feel more relaxed and calm, which lifts your mood. Playing with your dog, going for a run, and even sitting quietly on the sofa with your pet snuggled up to your feet can goose the pleasure centers of your brain.

3. Natural Wingman

Need a date? According to research, everyone needs a date now and then for their mental health. Pets are an excellent magnet for dates. They helps you start conversations and make real connections that may lead to a healthier love life.

4. Stress Relievers

Recently, offices have been allowing more pets in the workplace because of the psychological benefits. That’s partly in response to studies that reveal dogs are an excellent mechanism for releasing stress. According to a study out of SUNY Buffalo, married couples with dogs reported far less stress than those without.

5. Fitness Experts

Dogs naturally crave physical activity, and taking your dog for a walk every day promotes exercise for you as well. People are far more likely to go for walks or throw a Frisbee in the park when they have a dog along.

6. Faster Medical Recovery  

People who have a terminal illness or other serious condition are often prescribed a service animal to comfort them and lift their spirits while they go through the recovery stages of an illness.
For example, dogs have helped those with rheumatoid arthritis cope with the pain. They encourage physical activity that helps to restore joint movement, and their companionship encourages patients to keep their mind off their condition.

7. ADHD Focus

Many people diagnosed with ADHD have a difficult time focusing because of pent-up energy and an inability to control it. Dogs exert a calming effect for folks who suffer from this condition. They offer a solid outlet for all that energy and teach kids responsibility. Dogs have also proved useful in helping people feel more comfortable during treatment as well.

8. Heart Health

The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health have both certified that dogs promote heart health. These institutions conducted heart-related studies that showed a reduction in blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

When these levels are low, it reduces the risk of the patient having a heart attack down the road. Having a dog means more than having a built-in friend. It means a healthier lifestyle throughout the rest of your day.

You approach each day wanting to look and smell fresh, but the occasional mouth odors are bound to happen. In most cases, bad breath can be prevented by a change in diet, increased water intake, or chewing on mints or gum after meal. And of course proper oral health care – regular brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups – is critical to maintaining fresh breath. But when a healthy lifestyle isn’t enough to combat unpleasant odors, it’s time to talk to your dentist: they may be coming from those old metal fillings.

The Bad Breath Paradox

It’s obvious when someone else has bad breath, but you can’t always tell when your own oral aroma if offensive to others. Most people do, in fact, have bouts of bad breath at any given moment. However, few people ever realize that they suffer from the condition. A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association calls this condition the Bad Breath Paradox.

Although tens of millions of humans suffer from halitosis, there are several reasons why we can’t easily smell our own breath. Evolution tops that list, according to the study. Most causes of bad breath – smoking, dietary choices, poor oral hygiene, even prescription medication – are easily remedied. However, if the problem isn’t easily correct or if the odor is unusually foul, a trip to the dentist is in order. Your dental fixtures may be partly to blame.

The Perfect Home for Bacteria

Cosmetic dentistry has grown, evolved, and changed drastically over the past several decades. Modern advances and new technology are continuously emerging. But one common concept remains true regardless of how advanced the materials become: poor oral hygiene is the main cause of many health issues, including halitosis.

The mouth is a prime breeding ground for bacteria – it’s warm, moist, and provides all the necessary nutrition bacteria need to survive. Natural enamel on teeth is hard, but it’s not impenetrable. Families of bacteria clamor on and between teeth, eating away the hard exterior and leaving behind decay. The bacteria may also attack the gums leading to gingivitis – a potentially serious gum disease. If you and your dentist have determined that your oral health is generally good, but you still have foul odors emanating from your mouth, it may be time to update your fillings.

Beyond Halitosis: How Do Fillings Help Bacteria Flourish?

Dental materials are constantly analyzed and adapted for safety and security standards. The materials used today are far more durable than those used as recently as a decade ago. Composite materials are designed to ward off decay; yet, if your fillings or other materials are more than 10 years old, even a simple chip or crack in the substance can be enough to encourage bacteria growth. Underneath the materials, existing weakness along with the dark, moist, and hot conditions of the mouth lead to a new crop of decay. This new line of attack may reveal itself via unusually bad breath.

Concerned about your own breath? You should be. Twenty-five percent of people worldwide have chronic halitosis. If you suspect you’re among them, check with a trusted loved one to gauge your own oral scent. Beef up your oral hygiene routine, and stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle. But if these things are not enough to correct the problem, see your dentist as soon as possible. The solution could be as simple as replacing those old metal fillings with a new, more bacteria-resistant material.

Get a professional opinion. Sachar Dental in Midtown Manhattan, NYC can help you determine the cause of your bad breath problem. Their Fresh Breath Center utilizes the latest treatments to give you fresh breath once again.

If you notice that you burn easily while outside in the sun, then you might want to consider finding a sunscreen that offers the UV protection that the skin needs. Sunscreen is also beneficial for children as they have fair skin and can burn easily as well. Another reason to invest in the best broad spectrum sunscreen that you can find is to prevent some of the signs of aging while gradually getting a tan that you desire.

When you begin looking for a sunscreen, pay attention to the SPF number. If the product is for children, you want something that’s at least a 30 SPF or above. One that is at least a 15 will offer the protection that you need if you plan on being outside for long periods of time. However, you need to reapply the sunscreen about once every hour to hour and a half as sweat can tend to make the product come off the skin. You also want to reapply the sunscreen if you’re in the water. Children should also have sunscreen reapplied every 30 minutes if they remain in the water for a long time. There are some products that are waterproof.

Test the sunscreen before using it on a regular basis. Some products might have chemicals in them that will cause a rash on the skin or that don’t work as well as others. Sometimes, a less expensive sunscreen will work just as well, if not better, than one that cost a good bit of money. If the skin is oily, then consider a water-based sunscreen as these usually don’t have as many chemicals in them that can further break out the skin.

Pay attention to the expiration date. Sunscreen is a product that you don’t want to use if the date has passed as it will decrease the effectiveness. Some sunscreens will become oily if they sit for long periods of time, which can make the product harder to stay on the skin after it’s applied. A spray might work better if you are looking for a product to protect the skin while getting a tan, especially if you aren’t planning on being in the water.

In a world obsessed with looking your best, many people have become increasingly concerned with their weight. With television shows documenting the struggles of both anorexia and obesity, it is clear that America’s relationship with healthy diet and exercise has become strained. Regardless of which end of the scale you currently fall on, there are healthy changes that can be made to improve your health and physical appearance.

For those who struggle with being overweight, the battle can seem an impossible one. Recent studies are showing that your metabolism may be decreased for years after losing weight, making the struggle to stay thin seemingly impossible. But don’t despair yet, there are plenty of options to utilize when trying to lose weight. Included here are a few routes to take when beginning your journey to a lighter, healthier you.

Diet

The word “diet” often conjures up images of celery sticks and dreams of cheeseburgers, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Your diet is simply the foods that you eat everyday, whether they be healthy or unhealthy. By assessing your diet, you can begin to make changes that encourage personal health and weight loss.

For many people, the easiest way to begin significant diet changes is not in taking things away, but in adding things. For example, if you begin by telling yourself you are not allowed to have chips, all you will want to do is eat chips. But if instead you begin by adding one granola bar per day, one cup of yogurt, an extra serving of fruits and vegetables, and so on, you will feel like you are benefitting from the diet changes, instead of being restricted.

Calorie-counting comes into play when you want to lose weight, but if counting calories has failed for you in the past, you may instead just focus on eating healthy. As your diet begins to fill up with healthy options, that make you feel good, you will have less room in your diet for processed foods and unhealthy snack choices.

Physical Activity

As much as exercise may sound like a chore, it doesn’t have to be that way. Having a body that is capable of getting you places is a blessing, and should be utilized as such. If you hate spending time at the gym, start exercising in a way that is enjoyable to you. Ride your bike to work, hike to your favorite picnic spot, kayak to an island for camping, snowshoe in the woods, or try downhill skiing for a real adrenaline rush.

Exercise and diet go hand-in-hand towards making you a healthier person; the key is in finding what appeals to you and sticking to it. If routine exercise bores the life out of you, try mixing it up every day of the week. Have breakfast and do yoga in the park on Saturdays, go for a neighborhood walk on Mondays, cycle to your favorite taco joint on Tuesdays and so on.

Surgery

If you have tried every natural option towards weight loss and find yourself stuck with those extra pounds, it may be time to bring in the big guns. Remember that all surgical options go hand-in-hand with diet and exercise and are not a “quick-fix.” However, doing a stomach reduction surgery may be your best route to becoming your healthiest self.