Animals are good for our health!
07/16/2013
Of course it is important for us to care for our animals’ health, but it is good to know that they are caring for us as well!
This May, the American Heart Association published an article in the journal Circulation referencing multiple studies showing that pet ownership often decreases blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and anxiety, and even body weight in people. Dog ownership got high marks due to the exercise inherent with daily walking regimes, though other pets have been studied as well, especially cats, but also less conventional animals including goats, chimpanzees, snakes, fish and “virtual pets.”
People with pets had significantly
lower resting baseline heart rates and blood pressure,
significantly smaller increases in heart rate and blood pressure
in response to stress, and faster recovery...
I know I personally enjoy coming home to a dog that’s happy to see me and take me outside to check on the garden, and there is nothing more comforting than a warm purring cat to cuddle up with in the evening. I need to remember to thank them more often for their gifts.
This May, the American Heart Association published an article in the journal Circulation referencing multiple studies showing that pet ownership often decreases blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and anxiety, and even body weight in people. Dog ownership got high marks due to the exercise inherent with daily walking regimes, though other pets have been studied as well, especially cats, but also less conventional animals including goats, chimpanzees, snakes, fish and “virtual pets.”
People with pets had significantly
lower resting baseline heart rates and blood pressure,
significantly smaller increases in heart rate and blood pressure
in response to stress, and faster recovery...
I know I personally enjoy coming home to a dog that’s happy to see me and take me outside to check on the garden, and there is nothing more comforting than a warm purring cat to cuddle up with in the evening. I need to remember to thank them more often for their gifts.