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  • Why Does It Take So Long To Diagnose Endometriosis?

    Why Does It Take So Long To Diagnose Endometriosis?

    Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects one  in 10 women – but most of these women will have to wait a decade to discover the cause of their pain and discomfort.According to the home doctor experts at House Call Doctor, many women  dismiss their distress, fatigue and painful periods and intercourse as regular symptoms of menstruation. But as a disease that worsens with the passing of time and causes irreparable damage to the reproductive system, it’s crucial for endometriosis to be  diagnosed early.

    What is endometriosis?

    Endometriosis ( ‘endo’ for short) is a disease that causes endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, to grow outside of your uterus where it does not belong. As your hormones change throughout your menstrual cycle, this tissue breaks down, causing distress and leaving long term painful scar tissue.

    Why does it take so long for women to get a diagnosis?

    Endometriosis sufferers are  impacted by the disease differently. The symptoms experienced with endometriosis differ greatly, and many symptoms (such as constipation and stomach aches) are similar to conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Ovarian Cysts.

    The after-hours doctors at House Call Doctor note many patients report that other doctors have dismissed their symptoms. This may lead women to accept their pain, leaving the disease undiagnosed and potentially causing fertility issues.

    The main issue is that the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is through an invasive laparoscopic surgery. This surgery is expensive and carries risks for patients, as they must be placed under anaesthetic. As a result of this, sufferers of the disease may not seek the treatment they need.

    How to get diagnosed sooner

    Speak to your doctor about your symptoms, the impact they are having on you and any family history of the disease. If your symptoms are ignored, speak to another doctor and ask the question – could this be endometriosis?

  • How to Keep Your Kids Healthy This Winter

    How to Keep Your Kids Healthy This Winter

    Though children can get sick any time of year it is during the fall and winter seasons that it tends to happen the most. From the common cold or flu to other viruses and bugs, your children’s immune systems are highly susceptible to getting sick at the drop of a dime. The worst part – they tend to spread their sickness around the household in an instant leaving everyone feeling less than themselves. That’s why it is imperative at this time of year to take additional precautions to ensure they remain happy and healthy.

     Clean Your House Thoroughly and Often

     During the wintertime windows and doors tend to stay closed. This means that all the dust, dander, debris, germs, and bacteria are trapped in the house with you for the next few months. It creates an unhealthy environment that could quickly lead to a house full of sick children. You can reduce the chances of this happening by thoroughly cleaning your house from top to bottom. Using disinfecting products to kill germs and bacteria, clean hard surfaces and floors. You should also sweep, deep clean, and vacuum your carpets regularly. To keep up with cleanliness, weekly cleaning should be done.

     Keep Hand Sanitizer Nearby

     Though the best practice for getting rid of germs and bacteria is to wash your hands with soap and warm water, this isn’t always an option (not to mention, your kids are kind of forgetful). So, it is recommended that you keep a hand sanitizer nearby. It is a quick solution to kill germs and easily accessible. You can post some larger bottles around the house and instruct the children to use it after coughing, sneezing, or before meals. You can also do your family a favor by having a few travel bottles in your bag for when there’s no sink around.

     Spend Time Outdoors

     Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in the house all winter long. In fact, the more time you spend in the house the more likely the kids are to be spending their time in front of a screen which can be hazardous to their health. Encourage your kids to get outside and have a good time. Just be sure that you have dressed them appropriately so they don’t freeze or get frostbite. You can get winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, crochet baby shoes for your little one, and snow boots for older children. Let them go outside and build a snowman or a fort and run themselves crazy. The fresh air helps to boost their moods and their immune systems which can help keep them healthy this winter.

     Get Flu Shots

     If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to schedule flu shot appointments for your family. Though your kids may not like the idea of being poked, flu shots help to reduce the chances of them developing a sickness that can be very uncomfortable and traumatic to get through. If you don’t have insurance or a primary care physician to get the shots, get the kids dressed in their coats, hats, crochet Jordans, scarves, and gloves, and head down to a nearby pharmacy. Many of them offer free and/or affordable flu shots to the general public.

     Don’t Forget Winter Nutrition

     The change in temperatures, shorter days, and a higher risk of catching the common cold, flu, and other viruses, children also need proper nutrition to stay happy and healthy during the winter. Ditch the sugary, salty, fast-food, and start feeding them healthy and hearty meals each day. Make sure they’re getting enough whole grains, fruits and veggies with vitamin C, foods high in iron and zinc, antioxidants, and B vitamins to support a healthy immune system. You can make nutrition fun for kids by allowing them to help make decisions and even prepare meals as a family.

     Lots of parents dread the wintertime. Though there are a lot of reasons for this (i.e. terrible traffic, bad driving conditions, shorter days, cabin fever, etc.) at the top of the list is having a house full of sick children. If you want to prevent that from happening this year, do yourself and your children a favor and follow the steps above to keep them happy and healthy all season long.

  • Questions Tattoo Removal Patients Should Ask Before Removing Tattoo

    Questions Tattoo Removal Patients Should Ask Before Removing Tattoo

    Asking questions gives knowledge. Before undergoing tattoo removal treatments, it’s important to ask questions so that you know what you are getting into. As a tattoo expert, it’s your duty to listen to your patient’s questions and give the answers the right way to show your expertise in tattoo removal.The common question asked by most patients is the one concerning the cost of tattoo removal. Well, here are some of the questions one should ask.

    What is the cost of laser tattoo removal?

    Usually, this is what most people consider. It’s good to go for the method that matches with your pockets or finances. It should not be too expensive beyond your abilities. A tattoo specialist should have a clear pricing structure that the patient will understand and answer their questions on pricing. An important thing to note is that getting a tattoo removed is much more expensive than getting a tattoo applied. For one treatment or session, the minimum price ranges between $75 to $ 125 and at least four sessions are needed for the tattoo to disappear.

    earlier than starting whichever treatments it’s significant to put clear prospect and inform to patients that tattoos do take multiple sessions to remove. Eliminate any confusion they may have about per session pricing is the same as the total cost for complete removal. One way to communicate this effectively and to give patients an opportunity to save money is to put up for sale treatment package rates. Selling packages allow your practice to receive revenue upfront and also locks the patient into repeat visits to your practice

    Does tattoo removal hurt?

    Some patients may wish to remove a visible tattoo before an event such as their wedding or enlisting in the military. It’s significant to create straightforward that tattoo removal is a process that relies on the body’s ability to eliminate ink from the skin.

    It’s not unusual for the body to take over a year to completely eliminate ink. Setting expectations clearly upfront allows for patients to be satisfied throughout the experience rather than feeling as if they were misled.

    Tattoo removal hurts but the pain is bearable. As a specialist, you should know that there are patients who are overly sensitive. Skin numbing is often recommended for those patients who can’t bear or fear pain. One common numbing method used is Zimmer Cryo6, which blows cold air on the patient’s skin before and after undergoing treatment. Other numbing methods include topical numbing creams and ice packs. Other questions that patients should ask include how long does tattoo removal take? Will the removal leave a scar behind and are there side effects following tattoo removal?

    When discussing pain with patients, it’s important to share with them that there is some level of discomfort, but that they can manage it.

    The huge part of tattoo removal providers offer some form of calming to the skin throughout the treatment.

  • How is heart disease diagnosed?

    How is heart disease diagnosed?

    Heart disease or coronary heart sickness is one of the common causes of death in Malaysia. Heart disease or known as a heart attack or coronary heart disease is a condition where the blood vessels supplying your heart are blocked. The blood vessels supplying your heart are small, hence small block may cause serious problems and lead to death. Treatments for heart diseases are available to help you recover and to prevent any complications following heart disease.

    Diagnosis of heart disease or any other diseases depends on the findings from history taking, physical examination, and investigations. Analysis of signs and symptoms from history taking and physical examination is very important before a list of specific investigations can be ordered. The signs and symptoms of heart disease are:

    • Chest pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • Weakness
    • Fatigue
    • Increased jugular venous pressure
    • Swollen limbs or peripheries
    • Abnormal heart sound

    The investigations to confirm the diagnosis of heart disease is:

    • ECG and ECG stress test
    • Blood studies like cholesterol level and cardiac biomarkers test
    • Chest x-ray
    • Cardiac angiography

    A high level of cholesterol in your blood will result in fat plaque formation within the blood vessels of the heart. This plaque will cause a partial blockage. Later, the plaque will burst and the body will wrongly interpret that as internal bleeding and will start forming large plaque. A bigger plaque will cause complete blockage and the heart will slowly die and fails.

    The more risk factors, the higher the percentage of a person to suffer from certain illnesses. There are two types of risk factors which are modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable risk factors. Modifiable risk factors are something you can intervene and alter for betterment, while non-modifiable risk factors are factors you can’t do anything to change them.

    The threat factors for heart disease are:

    • Obesity or overweight
    • Hypertension
    • Diabetes
    • Male
    • Family history
    • High-fat diet
    • Sedentary lifestyle
    • Stressful life
    • Unbalanced diet
    • Smoking

    Males are at higher risk to suffer coronary heart sickness compared to females because of hormonal factors. Higher estrogen in women has a protective effect. However, after menopause, the risk to develop coronary heart disease is equal in both genders.

    Coronary heart disease is also a long term complication of diabetes. Poor blood sugar control among diabetic patients will induce fat deposition within arteries. This includes the coronary arteries that supply the heart.

    Smoking is one of the threat factors because this bad habit will cause the blood of a smoker to become thicker. The blood becomes thicker as the red blood cells of a smoker are beyond the normal range to help to supply body cells with adequate oxygen. Oxygen intake is lower during smoking while carbon monoxide production within the smoker’s body is super high. This triggers more production of red blood cells to wash out the carbon monoxide and to bring in more oxygen. Thick blood will cause blockage and heart attack is one of the complications.

    If you manage to modify the threat factors, the probability for you to suffer from heart disease will be lesser. The followings are the ways to reduce the risk of heart disease:

     

  • TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACELIFT

    TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACELIFT

    If you have been wanting to turn back time to restore your youthful appearance, then it is time you opted for Facelift Miami. When it comes to a facelift there is no one-size-fits-all approach. There are various techniques available when it comes to a facelift. Each person’s anatomy of the face is different, along with that the expectations from the procedure also differ considerably. Hence, these certain aspects need to be taken into consideration in order to determine which technique is more suitable for your needs. Following are two types of facelifts:

    Deep Plane Lift

    The deep plane, also known as SMAS is a technique which lifts and repositions the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) layer. This layer is present right below the skin and surrounds the muscles which are responsible for various facial expressions like smiling and frowning. Hardly visible incisions are made along the hairline which enables the facial muscles and the upper layers of fatty tissues to be lifted and restored to give a more youthful appearance. These incisions extend downwards following the natural facial crease and continue inside the ear along with the ear lobe, which ends behind the ear where they are out of sight.

    The skin is separated from the SMAS layer, enabling the surgeon to go beneath the layer to release its attachment from the skin allowing the surgeon to reposition the SMAS layer and the skin in a more desirable position in order to give you a more youthful and natural appearance. After the repositioning of the SMAS, any excess or loose skin can be removed and the edges are sutured closely. Studies have shown that deep plane techniques tend to deliver more dramatic and longer-lasting results. They also need fewer revisions as compared to the other procedures, making it more preferable for those who have facial sagging.

    Skin Only Face Lift

    Skin only facelift is the best fit for those who have slight facial laxity but the volume and shape of the face are still aesthetically pleasing.

    What is the recovery process like?

    After undergoing the procedure, the face is fitted with bandages which helps to decrease the recovery time along with swelling. According to the post-operative instructions you need to get plenty of rest and limit your movement so that the recovery and healing process speeds up. About a week or so after the procedure, the stitches are removed. Sometimes patients report some minor tightness and discomfort after undergoing the procedure. Any of the discomforts which arise can be treated effectively with oral medications. Complications are rare and the potential complications can be minimized by carefully following the post-operative instructions.

    Book your appointment

    If you have been thinking about undergoing a facelift, then you should book an appointment with a leading facial plastic surgeon. They will help you to determine what the most suitable technique is for your aesthetic goals.

  • How is female inability to conceive diagnosed?

    How is female inability to conceive diagnosed?

    A prospective female’s inability to conceive is assessed as a component of an extensive physical examination. The examination will include a case history concerning possible aspects that can contribute to infertility.

    Healthcare providers may make use of one or more of the adhering to tests/exams to assess fertility:

    • A urine or blood examination to check for infections or a hormonal agent problem, consisting of thyroid function
    • Pelvic test, as well as bust examination
    • A sample of tissue and cervical mucus to establish if ovulation is happening
    • Laparoscope put into the abdominal area to see the problem of body organs, as well as to try to find adhesions, blockage, or scar cells.
    • HSG, which is an x-ray used combined with a tinted liquid placed right into the fallopian tubes making it simpler for the service technician to look for blockage.
    • Hysteroscopy makes use of a small telescope with a fiber light to try to find uterine abnormalities.
    • Ultrasound to consider the uterus, as well as ovaries. Might be done vaginally or abdominally.
    • Sonohystogram combines ultrasound, as well as saline-infused right into the womb, to search for abnormalities or troubles.

    Tracking your ovulation with fertility recognition will assist your doctor in examining your fertility standing.

    How are women infertility dealt with?

    Female with the inability to conceive is usually dealt with by one or more of the adhering to approaches:

    • Taking hormonal agents to attend to endometriosis, hormone discrepancy, or a brief menstrual cycle
    • Taking medicines to stimulate ovulation
    • Using supplements to boost fertility
    • Taking prescription antibiotics to get rid of an infection
    • Having minor surgery to remove blockage or mark cells from the womb, fallopian tubes, or pelvic location.

    When should I contact my doctor?

    It is necessary to call your doctor if you experience any one of the adhering to symptoms:

    • Unusual bleeding
    • High temperature
    • Stomach pain
    • Uncommon discharge
    • Pain or itching in the vaginal area
    • Discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse

    Some couples intend to discover even more conventional or nonprescription efforts before discovering the inability to conceive procedures. But they should rather visit a reproduction expert and start treatment as fast as they can. To know more, visit here.

  • Everything you need to know about maintaining a good body posture

    Everything you need to know about maintaining a good body posture

     

    In order to get a good posture, you need to train your body to walk, sit, lie in a position that causes the least possible amount of stress on the supporting muscles and ligaments in the back. The population which has physical work and involves moving around generally has fewer issues with the spine. The section of people who spend around nine to twelve hours in offices spends most of the time working at a desk. Doctors and therapists who have to analyze scans and do detailed work also spend a lot of time in the chair. This means a lot of slouching and bad postures in the chair. Sometimes the chairs are also not comfortable and can’t be changed according to our needs which again makes us compose a posture most comfortable to us. This posture might feel good for a particular period of time but it will cause harm to our spine in the long run. This is where Forme Medical comes to your rescue. You can talk to Forme Medical consultant about your needs and get a customized chair that suits you. 

    Issues caused by bad postures

    If you spend a lot of time at desk jobs sitting in improper positions, it might lead to a series of serious health problems. It can cause you back pain. It can also tense the shoulder muscles which can cause pain in shoulder panes. It can harm the ligaments and soft tissues at the back. It can also cause tears in the joints. It can cause indigestion related issues. It can also cause nerve restriction. It can cause increased stress and strain. It can also lead to body fatigue. Slouching also affects your blood circulation which in turn can be very bad for health. Bad posture becomes habitual with time and in some worst cases, it can actually change the shape of the spine. This can lead to pain and discomfort in all day to day activities. You might need surgeries to improve the condition. Therefore it’s better to take precautions and not to let yourself fall into the habit of slouching. Let’s have a look at few pointers on how to correct our postures.

    How to correct posture 

    In order to maintain correct posture try to follow a few pointers. Keep your shoulder straight, back and relaxed. Keep your abdomen part pulled in. Keep your feet about heap distance apart to maintain good posture. Don’t put pressure on a single foot, try to evenly distribute the weight equally on both feet. Do not keep sitting in the same position for a long period of time. Stand up and do some desk exercises like rotate your neck, pull up your shoulder, touch your feet. Try to move for at least five minutes each hour. It will feel awkward while trying to keep the posture in check at the beginning but it will be very helpful later. Correct posture solves a lot of issues in our bodies.

  • The True Causes behind Hair Loss 

    The True Causes behind Hair Loss 

    Premature or abnormal hair loss is a problem that affects people from all generations today. Up to a hundred strands a day is considered normal hair fall by doctors, but above that count, continued hair loss can lead to baldness, thinning and hairline recession. So, what exactly causes hair loss? Are the causes same for men and women? What about people of different age groups? Do they also lose hair for the same reasons? 

    There are countless questions surrounding the subject of hair loss. Today, we will explore the causality by delving deeper into roots of hair loss. 

    Heredity

    To understand the true causes of hair loss, one must know that hair loss is not a syndrome by itself. It is merely the symptom of an underlying condition. Often that cause is hereditary. Both male and female pattern baldness have been proven to be hereditary. When genetic, balding happens in a predictable manner. Hair falls out at a gradual but steady rate. It gets worse with age. In men it starts with recession of the hairline and in women, with hair thinning. 

    Hormonal Irregularities

    More than 50% of the time, hormones are the culprit behind premature hair loss. Hormonal changes can be triggered by a variety of conditions. Women are at a great risk of hormone-caused hair loss than men. Hair loss caused by hormonal changes is sometimes temporary, and often permanent. Key hormone related causes of hair loss are thyroid problems, pregnancy, menopause and childbirth. Using a biotin shampoo for hair growth can help in these situations. 

    Medical Conditions

    Medical conditions too are directly linked with hair loss. Alopecia areata is a condition that causes patchy hair fall. Scalp infections too can cause hair to fall out abnormally before time. 

    Medications

    It’s not always a disease that is behind hair loss. Some medicines too can precipitate hair fall. Some drugs used in the treatment of heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, arthritis, gout and cancer have side effects that include mild to severe hair loss. In those cases, hair fall normally stops once the course ends, but often the changes undergone are permanent. 

    Stress

    Stress is another major source of hair problem. Stress alone can wreck the hormones, mess up the body’s primary systems and cause miscellaneous hair problems. Hair thinning is often seen in people who have recently undergone a stressful event in their lives. Though temporary and reversible through use of the best biotin shampoo and conditioner, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep stress at bay. 

    Hair Products and Treatments 

    Your hair loss could be a sign that you are putting the wrong products in your hair. This can be your daily shampoo and conditioner or your styling hair spray. When you see excessive hair fall that you can’t track down the source of, it could be the hair styling tools and chemicals. Switch gears for a while. Change to natural products, and avoid styling your hair for a few months. Meanwhile use a biotin hair spray to reverse hair loss and thinning to get the volume back. 

     

  • How to Most Effectively Lose Belly Fat

    How to Most Effectively Lose Belly Fat

     

    First and foremost, excess belly fat is neither healthy nor is it good for your appearance. In fact, belly fat that’s deep inside you, is associated with an increased risk of health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, high blood pressure, and some cancers. Consequently, it is a worthwhile goal to lose some, if not a lot of that fat. Therefore, some of the most effective ways to do that are described below.

    Diet

    Now, the most important factor in losing belly fat is what and how much you eat. So, go on a diet that is not only healthy but also helps you lose fat.

    Proteins

    First, include more proteins in your diet. Indeed, proteins help reduce levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. As a result, you feel full while eating less. Furthermore, studies have found that people who eat a protein-rich diet have less abdominal fat than those who don’t. So, the next time you’re cooking or eating, make sure to include good protein sources, such as the ones listed below.

    • Chicken or turkey
    • Lean beef or pork
    • Fish such as tuna or salmon
    • Quinoa, chickpeas
    • Beans
    • Eggs
    • Nuts, especially almonds or walnuts
    • Greek yogurt or cottage cheese

    Carbs

    Next, several studies have found that simply replacing refined carbs with unprocessed starchy carbs can improve your metabolic health and help you get rid of belly fat.

    Fiber

    Also, eat lots of food with high fiber content. By the way, soluble fiber can help you lose weight by making you feel full. Examples of foods with high fiber content include the ones below.

    • Fruits like berries, citrus, or bananas.
    • Vegetables like kale, spinach, or carrots.
    • Legumes like beans.
    • Whole grains like brown rice or bread made from whole grains.

    Others

    Meanwhile, other eating habits you can make to help reduce fat include the ones below.

    • First, replace your vegetable oils with coconut, avocado, or olive oil.
    • Next, eat more fatty fish that are high in Omega-3s. Examples of such fish include wild salmon, sardines, albacore tuna, mussels, oysters, rainbow trout, and Pacific halibut.
    • Also, include apple cider vinegar in your diet.
    • Meanwhile, eat probiotic foods.
    • Or, give intermittent fasting a try.
    • Next, drink green tea, particularly first thing in the morning.
    • In addition, cut back on your salt intake.
    • Most of all significantly cut back on portions of sugary foods such as sweets, pastries, and desserts.

    Weight-Loss Diets

    By the way, according to the U.S. News and World report for 2019, the best overall diet for fast weight loss is the Keto diet followed by the Atkins diet. 

    On the other hand, the best overall diet is the Mediterranean diet followed by the DASH diet.

    So, tailor these diets, as necessary, based on recommendations listed above.

    Drinks

    Next, avoid sugary drinks. In fact, sugar might just be the main culprit for your belly fat. Furthermore, studies show that sugar can lead to increased accumulation of belly fat. Moreover, sugar-sweetened drinks like juices and sodas contain large amounts of fructose that have devastating effects on your waistline.

    Instead, drink enough water. Moreover, staying well hydrated is not only important to keep your metabolism functioning at its peak, but also help lose weight.

    Lastly, cut back on your alcohol consumption.

    Exercise

    Next increase your activity level by aerobic exercises like walking, running, or swimming, to name a few. In fact, studies show that such workouts can help reduce belly fat. Meanwhile, other studies also show that short burst of high-intensity workouts are more effective at reducing belly fat than exercising at a steady pace. So, do short bursts of high-intensity workouts followed by longer but less intense recovery intervals. For example, start a walk at a slow pace for a few minutes. Next, walk as fast as you can for 10 minutes. Now, walk at a slower pace where you are not huffing and puffing for the next 15 minutes. Finally, repeat the sequence for 30 to 45 minutes.

    Regrettably, in today’s fast paced lifestyle, everyone doesn’t have that much time to spend on aerobics like walking, jogging, bicycling, and others. Or, the changing weather may prevent you from getting outside. So, for these and potentially other reasons, aerobics may end up taking a back seat in your efforts to lose belly fat.

    However, it doesn’t have to be that way. For example, desk pedal exercisers let you get some workout while sitting at a desk in the office or at home. Moreover, you can spend hours at a time doing things that you normally do while sitting and at the same time burn calories with these exercisers. Furthermore, a recent study reported that moving frequently is the best thing for your health.

    Finally, if you can, strengthen your muscles to build muscle mass. In fact, building muscles is among the best exercises to lose belly fat. Because, the greater your muscle mass the more fat gets burned even when you are not working out.

    Stress

    Next, stress increases levels of the hormone cortisol. And, research shows that high cortisol levels boost levels of the hormone ghrelin in blood. Furthermore, increasing levels of ghrelin increases your appetite as well as promoting abdominal fat storage. So, if you find yourself under stress, find ways to minimize it.

    Sleep

    Finally, studies show that people who don’t get enough sleep tend to gain more weight. In fact, this weight gain is due to hormonal imbalances that sleep deprivation causes. For example, not getting adequate sleep increases your stress, which, in turn, increases levels of the hormone cortisol. So, if getting enough sleep is a problem, take steps to remedy it.

    Takeaway

    Most of all, if you stay with your efforts, you will start seeing results when you weigh yourself after a few weeks if not sooner. By the way, when you start losing weight, belly fat usually goes away first. Get a Ketogenic Diet in Singapore with Carbs For Keto!

  • How dogs help improve your physical and mental health

    How dogs help improve your physical and mental health

    There’s no denying that the UK is a nation of pet lovers. Around a quarter of all households own at least one dog, and it’s easy to see why. Dogs are loyal, loving and lots of fun to be around. But, are you aware that they can also do amazing things for your physical and mental health?

    Physical Benefits

    Research has found a number of physical benefits of having a dog. Here are some of them:

    Dogs Keep You Active

    Dog owners won’t be surprised to hear that their four-legged friends help to keep them active. It’s a rare dog that doesn’t love to go for walkies, whatever the weather, and that means you have to put your shoes on and head out too.

    Studies have shown that older people who have a dog tend to have lower BMIs than those who do not. They also visit the GP less and do more physical activity in general.

    The stronger the bond between human and dog, the more walking the human is likely to do too!

    Dogs are Great for Cardiovascular Health

    Looking after your dog, whether you’re heading off to buy his favourite wet dog food, chasing him around the garden or going on walkies, means that you’re very active and being active is good for your heart.

    According to the American Heart Association, having a pet dog reduced your chances of getting cardiovascular disease or having a heart attack or stroke. This is not only due to the increased activity, as mentioned above, but also because petting, hugging and playing with dogs releases stress-reducing hormones that can help your body and mind to relax.

    Dogs Combat Loneliness

    Loneliness is a major cause of poor mental health. Humans are sociable animals and we need to feel a connection with other living things to be mentally healthy. Having a dog around is a great way to help with this. Of course, when you have a dog, more people approach you in the street or park for a chat too.

    Dogs Protect Against Allergies

    Some studies suggest that exposing babies and children to dogs and other pets at the earliest possible opportunity will help to stave off common allergies and allergy-based illnesses such as asthma and hayfever. A lot of people worry about having a dog because they could cause allergies, but they are just as, if not more, likely to help children avoid allergies too!

    Prevent Depression

    Depression is at epidemic levels right now. So many people are suffering that it is unreal. One thing that has been shown to help alleviate and even prevent the onset of depression is dog ownership. 

    If you own a dog, you are less likely to become seriously depressed in the first place, and if you do suffer from the illness, you are likely to be able to manage it far better with the help of your four-legged friend.

    Dogs are wonderful creatures for their company and loyalty alone, but when you add in the benefits they bring to your physical and mental health, dog ownership starts to seem like a no-brainer for anyone who can give a dog a loving home.