Eight Ways a Pet Helps Your Health
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By Robin Westen
If you have a pet, no one has to tell you how much your furry friend can open your heart and offer comfort and amusement. But your pet is also giving you a host of real health benefits. Here's what a pet can do for you:
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Control Cholesterol
Surveys show pet owners (men especially) have significantly lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those who don't have pets. It’s not clear whether a pet’s presence decreases cholesterol, or if pet owners maintain a healthier lifestyle. -
Bring Down Blood Pressure
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suggest dogs can lower their owner’s blood pressure. This is especially true for those who suffer with hypertension. The reason is unclear but researchers surmise it may be the result of an increase in owner’s exercise routine since dogs need to be walked. -
Lower Stress Levels
In a study at the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that when conducting a stressful task, people experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a spouse, family member or close friend was nearby. That’s why pets are -
Reduce Pain
A study from Loyola University found that people who use pet therapy while recovering from surgery need significantly less pain medication. -
Increase Friendships
An Austrian study found that pet ownership led to a boost in social contact, more socialization within neighborhoods, and an even greater perception to outside observers that the neighborhood seemed friendlier than areas with less pet ownership. -
Boost Mood
This is a primary reason pets are used in various forms of therapy. At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, they’re using dogs to help soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. -
Monitor Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetics
A study found that one-third of the pets living with diabetics (mostly dogs, but other pets including cats, birds and rabbits), would change their behavior when their owner’s blood sugar level dropped. Researchers suggest it’s a reaction to chemical changes in the owner’s body. -
Give Allergy Immunity
Unfortunately, this only helps your grandchildren. It’s been suggested that the more pets children have earlier in life, the fewer allergies they develop. That’s why kids who grow up on farms and around animals usually don’t have allergies. The dander on the pet’s hair offers natural immunotherapy. Getting a pet as an adult will not minimize allergies.
About the Author
Robin Westen is ThirdAge's Medical Director. Check for her daily updates. Her latest book, co-authored with Dr. Alyssa Dweck, is "V is for Vagina."
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