“It’s relaxing and transcendental.” Increase physical activity. ![]() ![]() “Petting and holding an animal allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature,” explains Barron. The cortisol-lowering and oxytocin-boosting benefits of petting also help keep your blood pressure at bay. In fact, an astonishing 84 percent of post-traumatic stress disorder patients paired with a service dog reported a significant reduction in symptoms, and 40 percent were able to decrease their medications, reported a recent survey. Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol , while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies). Not ready for a full-time furry friend in your home? Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog, cat-sit for a friend, or donate time at a local animal shelter-even short interactions provide enough pet exposure to reap some of these rewards.
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