Pets Can Improve Your Health

by Larry D. Jones, MPH, Health Director

Most pet owners don't need reminding - animals make people feel good. But we're talking about more than feeling glad they're around. Your favorite animal can make you healthy and help you stay that way. You may be surprised at just how many ways a pet can improve your health

Pets Are Natural Mood Enhancers

It only takes 15 to 30 minutes with a dog or cat or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed. Your body actually goes through physical changes in that length of time that makes a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered; and the production of serotonin, an important chemical associated with well-being, is increased. Reducing stress saves your body a lot of wear and tear.

Keep Blood Pressure in Check

You still have to watch your weight and exercise, but having a pet can help you manage your blood pressure. In one study of 240 married couples, pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates during rest than people who did not own a pet. That held true whether they were at rest or undergoing stress tests. Another study showed that children with hypertension actually lowered their blood pressure while petting their dog.

Help for Lowering Cholesterol

To manage cholesterol, doctors still recommend that you follow guidelines regarding diet, exercise, and medication. But, owning a pet has the potential of making it easier to avoid the dangers of cholesterol. Researchers have noted lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people who own pets compared to people who don't. However, this could be attributed to lifestyle factors of pet owners.

Cats and Dogs Good for the Heart

Research has shown the long-term benefits of owning a cat include protection for your heart. Over the 20 years of one study, people who never owned a cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack than those who had. Another study showed that dog owners had a significantly better survival rate one year after a heart attack. Overall, pet owners have a lower risk of dying from any cardiac disease, including heart failure.

Pet an Animal and Fight Depression

Therapists have been known to prescribe a pet as a way of dealing with and recovering from depression. No one loves you more unconditionally than your pet, and a pet will listen to you talk for as long as you want to talk. Petting a cat or dog has a calming effect, and taking care of a pet - walking with it, grooming it, playing with it - takes you out of yourself and helps you feel better about the way you spend your time.

Better Physical Fitness

People who own dogs tend to be more physically active and less obese than people who don't. Taking your dog for a daily 30-minute walk will keep you moving and ensure that you meet the minimum recommendations for healthy physical activity. Two 15-minute walks, one in the morning and one in the evening, will do the same thing, and after that, just playing fetch in the back yard with your dog will earn you healthful dividends.

Make Your Pet an Exercise Buddy

If you exercise with your pet, you'll both benefit. Shine a flashlight on the wall or wave a string while you do a step aerobics routine. Your cat will get a healthy workout chasing the light, and you’ll be thoroughly entertained. Some people like to use their cat rather than dumbbells when doing weight training.

Fewer Strokes Among Cat Owners

Researchers aren't sure why, but cat owners have fewer strokes than people who don't own cats. It's partly due to the effects owning a pet can have on a person's circulation. Researchers speculate that cats may have a more calming effect on their owners than other animals do. It may also have something to do with the personality of a cat owner. Cats often become the focus of their owner's interest, which diverts them from other stressful worries.

More Interaction, Less Isolation

One key to a healthy mind is staying engaged with others, and pet owners have a tendency to want to talk with other pet owners. A dog is a conversation waiting to happen. People, especially other people with dogs, will stop and talk with you when they see you walking your pet. Visiting a dog park lets you socialize with other owners while your dog socializes with their dogs.

Fewer Allergies, Stronger Immunity

Researchers have noted that when children grow up in a home with a dog or cat, they are less likely to develop allergies. The same is true for kids who live on a farm with large animals. In addition, higher levels of certain immune system chemicals indicate a stronger immune system activation, which will help keep them healthy as they get older.

Cats and Asthma Prevention

It sounds counterintuitive, but pet allergies are one of the most common triggers of asthma. Researchers have studied the effects of having cats in the homes of infants at risk for asthma. What they found was that those children were significantly less likely to develop asthma as they got older. There is one exception. Children whose mothers have a cat allergy are three times more likely to develop asthma after early exposure to cats.

Overcoming the Limitations of ADHD

Children with ADHD can benefit from working with and keeping a pet. Taking charge of the tasks on a pet care schedule helps a child learn to plan and be responsible. Pets need to play, and playing with a pet is an excellent way to release excess energy. That means an easier time falling asleep at bed time, and because the bond between a pet and a child is unconditional love, pets help children with ADHD learn about self-esteem.

Remember dogs and cats are available for adoption at the Independence Animal Shelter located at 875 Vista Avenue in Independence.