National Dog Day: How Do Dogs Help Us Stay Healthy?
It’s National Dog Day this weekend, which means it’s time to grab that chewed-out tennis ball and head to the dog park!
For dog lovers, it’s not surprising that there are actually more reasons to appreciate our playful friends. One study, published in The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, demonstrates findings that show how dog owners are more likely to go on leisure walks than non-pet owners and cat owners. Walking and jogging, twice a day, cleaning, and keeping up with our four-legged companions can be a real workout!
Many research findings support that owning a dog can improve your fitness and reduce stress, but it turns out, dogs really do so much more for us than help us have good habits. For instance, one study conducted at Harvard University supports that owning a dog can reduce the risk of heart disease, due to the lifestyle changes made by adopting a canine companion.
Even more astounding, a study was conducted to support that dogs have such a powerful sense of smell that they can detect “abnormal volatilomes”, or unhealthy organic compounds created by the body, in their owners, so accurately, that dogs can even help doctors diagnose early signs of illnesses!
Simply speaking, dogs can actually smell unhealthy developments in the human body! The study results demonstrate that dogs can actually smell and recognize cancer cells, diabetes complications, and even early signs of an epileptic seizure.
Doctors and dogs agree, if you found any of this interesting, it just might be time to celebrate the holiday with a new companion. Woof! But can a dog measure your body fat percentage? Although our devices aren’t quite as amazing as man’s best friend, we at Olive Healthcare hope that our devices continue to help you as you continue on with your health journey.
If you don’t have a dog, we would like to really recommend adopting a dog in need of a home! Just as how beneficial dogs are to our health, reciprocity and generosity are excellent ways to help mend a burdened heart of stress.
Olive Healthcare wishes you a Happy National Dog Day!
