The older I get, the more I try to eliminate stress from my life. I truly believe that it's one of the biggest detriments to our health. Plus, we're only on this planet for a short time. Why not enjoy it to the fullest if we can?
Chronic stress can even be deadly. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who experience chronic stress are at a greater risk for everything from anxiety and depression to digestive issues and weight gain. It can even lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, especially if you don't find healthy ways to manage it.
Of course, there are many ways to manage stress, but according to science, getting a dog could be the key.
For years, research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers your levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases oxytocin, the "feel-good" hormone that helps mothers bond with their babies. Johns Hopkins reports that 84% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) see their symptoms reduced when they have a service dog. Around 40% even say that a dog actually helped them decrease the amount of medication they have to take to deal with the disorder.
But a fairly recent study out of the University of Denver suggests that the effect of having a dog can regulate your stress levels even more than we ever thought possible. Researchers recruited 40 dog owners and had them participate in a "15-minute gold standard laboratory stress test" that involved doing stressful things, like math and public speaking, in front of an audience of expressionless people. Here's what they found:
The participants were randomly assigned to bring their dogs to the lab with them or to leave their dogs at home. We measured cortisol in blood samples taken before, immediately after and about 45 minutes following the test as a biomarker of HPA axis activity. And unlike previous studies, we also measured the enzyme alpha-amylase in the same blood samples as a biomarker of the SAM axis.
As expected based on previous studies, the people who had their dog with them showed lower cortisol spikes. But we also found that people with their dog experienced a clear spike of alpha-amylase, while those without their dog showed almost no response.
No response may sound like a good thing, but in fact, a flat alpha-amylase response can be a sign of a dysregulated response to stress, often seen in people experiencing high stress responses, chronic stress or even PTSD. This lack of response is caused by chronic or overwhelming stress that can change how our nervous system responds to stressors.
In contrast, the participants with their dogs had a more balanced response: Their cortisol didn’t spike too high, but their alpha-amylase still activated. This shows that they were alert and engaged throughout the test, then able to return to normal within 45 minutes. That’s the sweet spot for handling stress effectively. Our research suggests that our canine companions keep us in a healthy zone of stress response.
They go on to call dogs one of "the most accessible and effective tools for staying healthy in a stressful world." I'll buy that.
The American Heart Association claims that having a dog doesn't just help you regulate stress. It can help with other mental health issues like anxiety and loneliness, and dog owners tend to be more productive. Of course, dog owners tend to be more physically active than non-dog owners, which can help contribute to everything from stress reduction to your overall physical health. According to UC Davis Health, 60% of dog owners get their recommended amount of daily exercise.
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Dogs may even help with healthy aging. Older adults with pets are typically less lonely and have better overall quality of life.
Of course, dog ownership is not for everyone, but I highly recommend it. For those of you who were here when I first started at PJ Media late last year, you may remember that I had to say good-bye to my 15-year-old best buddy just before Christmas. The last seven months have been the only period of time in my adult life (and really my entire life — I've had family dogs since I was five years old) when I haven't had a dog. I don't love it. It's easier, yes. I can get in bed at night without having to worry about taking her out, and my grocery bill has gone down significantly since I'm not buying her food, but easier isn't always better. In fact, I find myself looking longingly at dogs I see, whether they're online, in person, or on TV. And while, in the end, Sadie added to my stress, I know that for years she (and her big sister Gabby) made me healthier and kept my stress levels down, too. I have no doubt about that.
