| Pets: Can your pet make you healthier? |
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By: By Dr. ROBERT BLALOCK
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All of us who live with pets know the joy they can bring to our lives. But did you know that sharing your life with a pet may also improve your health and help you to live longer?
In two separate research studies, Dr. Erika Friedmann determined that people who were recovering from a heart attack were five to eight times more likely to be alive one year after they were discharged from the hospital if they had a pet than if they didn't. This was true even when controlling for severity of illness, demographic characteristics and physiologic profiles suggesting that the relationship itself with the animal was the key predictor of survival rates.
Other studies show that Alzheimer's patients have fewer anxious outbursts and fewer mood disorders when there is an animal in the home. Cats seem particularly suited for this setting since the caregivers often feel less burdened by a cat who may require less daily care by them than a dog.
Even tropical fish have been shown by researchers at Purdue to help relax Alzheimer's patients. In fact, patients exposed to a fish tank ate up to 21 percent more food than before and the fish would often hold their attention for up to 30 minutes.
Pets may also help your blood pressure. Dr. Karen Allen conducted a fascinating study of high earning, highly stressed stockbrokers who lived alone. Even on blood pressure medicine, many of these participants experienced very high peaks in blood pressure during stressful events. Half of the stockbrokers got a dog or cat while half did not. After six months, the group with a pet experienced stress-related rises in blood pressure only half as high as those without a pet. Both systolic and diastolic readings were reduced.
We all know the stress relieving effects of seeing kittens play or looking into the big, round eyes of an adoring dog. This effect has also been studied and confirmed by scientific studies. A 1999 study by Dr. Judith Seigel of UCLA showed that among a group of people with high depression rates, depression was about six times more likely among those without a pet than those with one.
Stories reported on Petplace.com of dogs who formally serve others are equally amazing. Take, for example, Maddie and her owner Kate Bland's story. After beating cancer herself, Maddie and her owner wanted to make a difference with the life she had been given. So they began to visit nursing homes twice a week. The transformation in the residents there was amazing. One lady who used to spend 23 hours each day in bed started getting dressed and coming to the living room and even outside to visit with Maddie.
Also consider the program at the Washington State Correctional Center for Women. This program enlists inmates to train and care for service and guide dogs to assist the blind and disabled. The dogs are saved from euthanasia, the disabled persons gain independence and the inmates learn valuable life skills of hard work, kindness, consistency, and love. The program works so well that only one inmate in the program that began in 1981 has ever returned to the prison compared with 50 percent or more of the general inmate population.
It is encouraging to see research confirming what those of us who love pets have known all along. They provide non-judgmental friendship, they give us someone to care for and be recognized by, they provide endless humor, lots of cuddling, increased exercise and become important members of our families.
So go ahead and enjoy a pet—it's good for you!
Dr. Blaylock owns Animal Care Veterinary Hospital on New Salem Highway.
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