08/18/2025
🌟 Welcome to Fun Fact 15th 🌟
On the 15th of every month, we share a quick, science-backed health tip to help you feel your best. These fun facts cover everything from nutrition and exercise to mental wellness and lifestyle habits, all supported by credible research you can trust.
🩺 Today’s Fun Fact: Your Pet Is a Wellness Booster! 🐾
Spending time with a pet, whether playing, petting, or just relaxing together, can lower stress levels, reduce blood pressure, and even decrease the risk of depression. Research shows that interacting with animals lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) while boosting oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, which are linked to relaxation and happiness.
Pet owners, especially dog owners, tend to walk more, which supports heart health by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. People who have dogs often have a lower risk of heart disease and may even live longer.
Clinical studies also show that pet interactions in hospitals and care settings can ease anxiety, improve mood, and strengthen social connection.
So on this 15th, give your pet some extra love. That short cuddle or walk is not just good for them, it is great for your health too!
Sources: Integrative Medicine Research - IMR, UC Davis, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and American Heart Association