The Health Benefits of Pets

Doctors have long prescribed pills and procedures. But for some people, that isn’t enough. Sanjay sits down with Julia Hotz, author of The Connection Cure, to explore the rise of social prescribing—linking patients to things like volunteering, art, or nature—and how a simple ques ...  Show more

Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks through the benefits and risks of cold plunges, and what the limited science tells us about its impacts on inflammation. Plus, the fascinating neuroscience behind why we itch. Producer: Jesse Remedios Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Sen ...  Show more

Delving into animals' minds - and our relationships with them - Claudia Hammond wonders whether our pets care if we get hurt. Would a dog - or even a cat - give a monkey's if their owner fell over? Researchers like Dr Karen Hiestand are keen to explore the differences between can ...  Show more

The role that animals can play in improving people’s mental health has garnered increased attention in recent years -- from service dogs for PTSD to emotional support animals on planes to therapy dogs in offices. Dr. Maggie O’Haire, a psychologist at the Purdue University College ...  Show more

Companion pets - especially dogs - are credited with making our lives richer and more fun, but does the science back up this belief? Dr Laurie Santos breaks down what it is dogs can do to make us happier - and what behaviours we can adopt to experience the wellbeing boost of dog ...  Show more

Cats have long had a reputation as standoffish pets, but many cat owners will tell you that the cat-human bond can run deep. Cat psychologist Kristyn Vitale, PhD, talks about new research on cats’ cognitive and social abilities; why cats really are as emotionally attached to us a ...  Show more