Dogs – Hidden Health Benefits

Need A Little Help With Your Health? Get A Dog!

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 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!