In recent years, multiple studies have illustrated the ways people’s dogs can provide comfort, calm their frazzled nerves, be good listeners, and provide other forms of valuable support, proving that sometimes words are simply not necessary.

When people were asked to perform mental arithmetic (算术) or endure a “cold pressor” test in which their hand is submerged in ice water, those who had their dogs present had smaller increases in their blood pressure and heart rate. More recently, a study in a 2023 issue of the journal Emotion had people engage in a stressful task — involving adding numbers that flashed on a computer screen — then interact with their pet dog, color in a coloring book, or wait quietly for 10 minutes. Those who interacted with their dogs experienced a greater boost in mood and a greater reduction in anxiety than those who waited or tried to destress by coloring.

Research has also found that talking to your dog about emotionally fraught issues can be particularly beneficial. People are more willing to confide (吐露) in their dogs about difficult emotions, such as depression, jealousy, anxiety, apathy, and fear, than they are with their romantic partners or friends. The precise reasons for this may be that pets are good, nonjudgmental listeners because they don’t interrupt or reply. Your relationship with your dog is a safe space because your dog won’t judge you or disagree with you.

A study in a 2022 issue of the International Journal of Public Health found that when people interact with their dogs while teleworking, it replenishes the humans’ self-regulatory resources — by engaging in micro-breaks to pet their pup, the people are able to relax and refresh themselves — in ways that interacting with unfurry family members doesn’t.

“Dogs are fantastic at reading us — they can sense when we’re upset — and they are arguably better at reading us than some people are,” says Kogan, a professor in the clinical sciences department at Colorado State University, “because we intuit that our dogs read us so well, we regulate ourselves so as not to upset our dogs, which is helpful for us as well. It’s a positive feedback loop.”

Signs You Might Be Dehydrated(脱水的)

Dehydration is a big problem in the summer months. Unfortunately, knowing when you begin to dehydrate isn’t always easy. So, as summer heats up, here are a few secret signs that you need to drink as soon as possible.

Your breath smells or your mouth is dry. There is a potential relationship that links dehydration and less than-pleasant breath, When you're dehydrated, you don't produce as much saliva(唾液).【小题1】So if you notice your breath is a little smelly, it could be a red flag that you need to drink a glass or two of H₂O.

【小题2】Dehydration can actually temporarily shrink brain tissue, and that shrinkage may cau se pain. Such pain is a really common sign of slight to middle dehydration, and it can be either tolerable or serious.

Your pee（尿液）is dark. One way health professionals diagnose dehydration is by testing a patient’s pee to see if it's too concentrated. But it can also help to do an easy check at home. Simply look at the color of your pee. If it’s pale yellow, you’re hydrated. If it's a darker yellow, it’s time for a glass of water.【小题3】

You’re hungry. Thirst and hunger signs always come together.【小题4】So if you find that you’re feeling hungry soon after eating, it’s worth considering whether the real reason is thirst.

【小题5】Staying hydrated is a really key part of maintaining energy throughout the day. Not getting enough water to support the body to do their functions can make you feel like you’re dragging. Plus, hydration can have a direct effect on sleep quality.

People who are at your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they influence you on your decision or action, it’s called peer pressure. All of us, at some point in our lives, have had to deal with peer pressure.

Recent studies have shown that peer pressure might cause an upside to you. It can make you reflect on your actions and make changes to your ways to become a better one. Observing others working hard to reach their goals will definitely encourage you to make a great effort to achieve something positive. When a teen knows that his teammates are practicing hard to become better players then it will directly affect his own performance. He will put in twice the time and energy to raise the level of his game and ensure he has a place on the team.

Having a group that brings positive peer pressure can also help you pick up healthy habits that can shape both your personality and your future. For example, when a child knows that some of his friends regularly read storybooks, he may get into the habit of reading. Seeing that his friends exercise daily, even he may take up the habit.

Just as some influences can be positive, some can be negative too. Peer pressure sometimes can make a fall in your self-confidence. Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, or because they worry that others might make fun of them if they don’t go along with the group. The idea that “everyone’s doing it” can influence them to leave their better judgment behind. Besides, it is common for teenagers to think that nobody understands them and that the whole world is against them. The influence of peer pressure is such that it keeps them completely away from their family and friends who mean well. They just shut themselves off and fall into bad company.

It’s likely that you’ve experienced the impact of peer pressure in different areas, ranging from the clothes you wear to the music you listen to. Sometimes it can be hard to resist(抵抗) and you may feel forced to do something you’re uncomfortable with. So being aware of and carefully choosing the influence of peers that will lead to healthy and happy experiences is a lifelong process.