Dogs are considered man's best friend. But did you know that
having a dog gives you several heath benefits?
In studies
done by medical professionals, dog owners benefit from their
pet's presence in several ways:
1) Improved
cardiovascular health - Dog owners have been proven to have
blood pressure and cholesterol lower than ordinary people. These
factors reduce the chance for cardiovascular diseases. Stroking
a pet has long been known to reduce blood pressure. A study from
the New York State University found that these benefits continue
even without the pet available. The study tested a group of
stockbrokers with hypertension. They concluded that just being a
pet-owner can lower blood pressure.
Dog owners also have
blood cholesterol levels lower than normal. Five thousand four
hundred people were tested by the Baker Medical Research
Institute of Australia and with the results showing pet owners
having not just lower blood pressure but also lower levels of
blood triglycerides and cholesterol compared to people who
didn't own any pets.
2) Faster recovery time and higher
survival rates - Hospital studies have found that seniors and
recently operated on patients responded better to treatment and
got better quickly while they were in contact with dogs and
other therapy animals. Just petting a dog can be relaxing and
therapeutic for recovering patients.
Also, dog owners
have a greater chance to survive after suffering from a serious
illness. Several studies have discovered that pet owners who
suffered from a heart attack were more likely to be alive a year
after they were discharged from the hospital than those who did
not own pets. Another New York study found that pet's affected
their survival rate more even more than the presence or company
of family members or friends.
3) Fewer visits to the
doctor - Studies conducted at Cambridge and the UCLA have found
that owning a pet corresponds to overall improved health and
less need for hospital visits. A Medicare study of its elderly
patients also discovered that those who own dogs visit the
doctor less than those who don't have a pet.
4) Mental Wellness - Patients who have dogs have also been
known to have better emotional health than their counterparts.
They offer unconditional love and affection; their presence
alone helps reduce loneliness for sick people who have otherwise
been isolated. Several studies of people with major illnesses
have shown that the stress of fighting the disease is
significantly reduced when they had a dog as company.
As
you can see, having a dog is a great investment, for the joy
that you get from owning one and the health benefits that you
can receive. So go out and get a dog!
About the Author:Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog
Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's
Dog Gone Good!
http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/
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www.iSnare.com
