Stress relieving dogs, just in time for exams MORGAN BROWNELL staff writer
THINK OF THE words that come to your mind when you hear “exam.” Stress? Anxiety? Exams pretty much determine what you have learned so far in a subject, and they are kind of a big deal. For SHS, three days are dedicated to just exams, but weeks are spent preparing for them. Now, what is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “dog?” Happy? Playful? Fun? While all of these things may be true to many people, dogs have also been proven to help reduce stress. While it is very important that you study hard and spend time preparing for exams, it is even more important to watch your health. Build up of stress can cause a weak immune system, which can lead to sickness. This does not by any means mean that the exams themselves are unhealthy, but the way your body reacts to the stress that they cause may be. Interaction with therapy animals has been scientifically proven to be stress reducing. So, what is it about dogs that make humans so much happier? Petting an animal increases the hormone oxytocin, which is what relieves stress in your body. It has been found that people with high blood pressure are more likely to keep their blood pressure down in a time of stress if they have dogs. Many universities throughout the United States have been bringing in service dogs for the students that are studying
and taking exams. “Puppy Rooms” are put around campus for anyone that is interested. The University of North Carolina recently brought in therapy dogs for their staff and students during exam week. “Visits by therapy certified animals have been proven beneficial in a wide variety of environments including schools and hospitals,” according to the UNC School of Media and Journalism. What does this have to do with the SHS? Just like any college, high school students also take exams. A program like this at SHS would be a great opportunity.
WOOF! The University of North Carolina brings in dogs as a form of stress relief. Not just students, but staff and anyone else there, can go to visit the dogs. Photo courtesy of Tribune Services.
“Pet owners had less stress and quicker recovery from stress when they were with their pets as compared to when they were with their spouse or friend,” according to “The Seattle Times.” Everyone wants to do well on their exams, and they would do anything to do well on them. Dogs just may be the answer to this problem.
Children with anxiety A study of 643 kids was done to track body mass index, physical activity, screen time, and mental health. The biggest difference found between the kids was the meantal health of those who have dogs and those who do not have dogs. 21 percent of the children without dogs tested positive for anxiety, while only 12 percent of children with dogs tested positive for anxiety. Design by Morgan Brownell
Sources: unc.edu, seattletimes.com, sciencealert.com