eco dogs: Pets Can Reduce Stress, Cholesterol and Obesity

This is an appropriate article for today. The last few months have been extremely stressful for me, personally. And yes, in their own way, Blue and Lilly have provided some comfort and distraction, on occasion, from the stress.

So today, rather than delve into my own concerns or on a tirade about some issue related to pets, I am posting from this interesting article that came to my attention today.

Looking for a holistic way to reduce stress, cholesterol and obesity? Get a pet. Statistics show that 62% of American households own a pet. According to a national survey, most pet owners say companionship, love, company and affection are the No. 1 benefits to owning a pet.

We know that pets make good companions and decrease loneliness, but numerous studies have shown other profound health benefits of owning a pet:

1. Pets help recovery from heart attacks. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of 421 adults found that dog owners had a better one-year survival after a heart attack, compared to those who did not own dogs.

2. Pets help us calm down. A study of 240 married couples showed that pet owners had lower heart rates and blood pressure as compared to those without pets.

3. Pets help reduce stress better than our human companions. Pet owners had less stress and quicker recovery from stress when they were with their pets as compared to when they were with their spouse or friend.

4. Pet owners have less obesity. A study looking at 2,000 adults found that pet owners who walked their dogs had less rates of obesity and were more physically active than those without pets.

To read the article in its entirety and review four more reasons to own a pet, see RISMedia> or visit PetsAddLife.org.

Source: http://www.ecodogsblog.com/2011/04/pets-can-reduce-stress-cholesterol-and.html

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