Hugs are like Boomerangs - they come right back | iHeart's Talk Radio KTRH Houston | 4/13/23

They love unconditionally. Usually, most dogs, love a good hug. For older folks, sometimes a dogs unconditional loving affection can be the healthiest thing on earth.Dogs have an amazing ability to fill an empty nest, and for those seniors who had not ever thought someday they would be alone, a pet can be the best thing the doctor ordered.Medical science has documented the lower blood pressure that comes with a pooch. And the lower cholesterol, and prevention of heart attacks. What's very hard to measure is the benefit of being loved."Petting those animals gives us some great endorphin release, which helps you feel better. And you have to take care of them, so you're out there walking. You have to be active. And you'll probably be more social in the process," says elder care specialist Michelle Sue with Touchmark. A side benefit of a dog is that they give your life structure. They need to be fed. Walked. Cared for. Groomed. For someone who is living alone, they require an individual to focus on the needs of someone else. Michelle Sue reminds how god it feels to hug a person, and hugging a dog offers the same warmth and wonderfulness.An amazing statistic is that people with dogs are more likely to survive a heart attack than people without dogs. AARP offers ten reasons seniors are better off owning a dog.That wagging tail of exuberant joy every time you walk in the door doesn't make the list, nor does stealing your heart, but they'll do that.- Nikki Courtney, reporter at KTRH Radio Houston