Will Owning Pets Benefit Your Health?

Many households have added a furry friend to their families. However, not all pet owners are aware of the fact that pets do much more than simply brighten their day. Indeed, according to the Center for Disease Control, pets provide many benefits to their owners, especially when it comes to what people should treasure the most: health.

Cardiovascular Health

• Victims of heart attacks who own dogs have better survival rates.

  One study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was able to demonstrate that four-legged friends were capable of improving their owner's cardiovascular health. The study observed 421 adults who had suffered from a heart attack. A year later, it was found that owners of dogs were significantly more likely to still be alive compared to people who did not own dogs, regardless of the severity of the heat attack.

Lower Blood Pressure

• Owning a pet may lower blood pressure and stress levels.

  Another study conducted by NIH looked at 240 married couples. It was found that those who owned a pet had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates when compared to couples without pets. These results were found both at rest or when undergoing stressful tests. Owners of pets were also found to have quicker recovery rates when under stress when in company of their pets, compared to being with a spouse or friend.

Other Benefits

• Seniors who walk their dogs on a regular basis have better mobility.

  Additional benefits in owning pets include healthier lifestyles. A study conducted by NIH found that dog owners who regularly walked their dogs were physically active and less prone to obesity when compared to those who did not own a dog. People who walked their dogs on a regular basis were found to walk faster and for longer periods of time. Even seniors who engaged in regular dog walking activities had greater mobility than those who did not own or did not walk their dog.

Expert Insight

• Even fish may provide a multitude of health benefits.

  While people often think of cats or dogs as providers of health benefits, even pets as inactive as fish may provide a multitude of benefits. Purdue University researchers noticed how displaying tanks of brightly colored fish caused improvements in the condition of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer patients who were exposed to fish tanks appeared to be more relaxed and alert and had a better appetite. They also were less likely to wander, pace or engage in aggressive behaviors, according to professor and Purdue researcher Nancy Edwards.

Application

• The positive effects pets have on people's health have been used for some time to help sick people. This therapeutic approach in clinics and hospitals is known as ''pet therapy.'' One can easily notice what big difference it makes when a dog is placed at the bedside of patients coping with illnesses, according to Ann Berger, a physician and researcher who works with patients affected by life-threatening illnesses at the NIH Clinical Center.