Pets: you can love and hate them at the same time. One moment theyre sinking their teeth into your expensive shoes, and the next, they shower you with affection. But regardless of what they do and how you feel about them, there is no denying that there are various health advantages of having a pet:
1) Lower stress levels and blood pressure. According to studies conducted at the University of Warwick, interacting with pets (such as stroking them or playing with them) has the tendency to lower a persons blood pressure and relax them. In another study, stockbrokers with high blood pressure readings were asked to adopt a cat or a dog, and those who did were later found to have much lower blood pressure levels in stressful situations that those who did not adopt a pet. Of course, this will not work if you do not like animals or are afraid of them " then they will probably cause more anxiety than they resolve.
2) Recovery from illness. Pets have been known to help people in astounding ways, but they have the greatest number of success stories with heart attack patients. Various studies show that patients who have suffered from a heart attack tend to live longer if they have a pet at home, and they are also less prone to heart disease than non-pet owners. Pets can also serve as a loyal support system to their bed-ridden owners, providing them with the comfort that results in a quicker recovery.
Pets have also been recommended by some surgeons whose patients have fallen into a coma. While there is no substantial scientific research that proves this, the mere presence of a pet at the bedside of a person has helped patients emerge from a coma. Dogs, in particular have also been known to minimize the symptoms of Parkinsons and Alzheimers.
3) Improvement in social life. Most domesticated animals are highly social creatures, and are therefore great company. Whether it is a dog that follows you around the house, or a cat that rubs up against your legs, pet owners have a constant source of social interaction. Pets can also be great conversation topics both in and outside the home.
4) Happiness. People often forget how happy a pet can make us: they help us cope with difficult situations such as pain and loss, and have even helped people suffering from depression to feel better. Stroking a cat, dog, or rabbit elevates serotonin levels in the brain, and some psychologists have even used pets in their therapy sessions. Being greeted by a purring cat or an ecstatic dog every time you return home can be a great self-esteem booster, especially if the world has not been on your side. This is also why pets are sometimes taken to elderly homes " they work wonders against loneliness and isolation.
Whether you have had to file for bankruptcy or end your marriage, a pet will love you regardless; and this unconditional love is the best remedy to ensure our health and happiness. - 14130
1) Lower stress levels and blood pressure. According to studies conducted at the University of Warwick, interacting with pets (such as stroking them or playing with them) has the tendency to lower a persons blood pressure and relax them. In another study, stockbrokers with high blood pressure readings were asked to adopt a cat or a dog, and those who did were later found to have much lower blood pressure levels in stressful situations that those who did not adopt a pet. Of course, this will not work if you do not like animals or are afraid of them " then they will probably cause more anxiety than they resolve.
2) Recovery from illness. Pets have been known to help people in astounding ways, but they have the greatest number of success stories with heart attack patients. Various studies show that patients who have suffered from a heart attack tend to live longer if they have a pet at home, and they are also less prone to heart disease than non-pet owners. Pets can also serve as a loyal support system to their bed-ridden owners, providing them with the comfort that results in a quicker recovery.
Pets have also been recommended by some surgeons whose patients have fallen into a coma. While there is no substantial scientific research that proves this, the mere presence of a pet at the bedside of a person has helped patients emerge from a coma. Dogs, in particular have also been known to minimize the symptoms of Parkinsons and Alzheimers.
3) Improvement in social life. Most domesticated animals are highly social creatures, and are therefore great company. Whether it is a dog that follows you around the house, or a cat that rubs up against your legs, pet owners have a constant source of social interaction. Pets can also be great conversation topics both in and outside the home.
4) Happiness. People often forget how happy a pet can make us: they help us cope with difficult situations such as pain and loss, and have even helped people suffering from depression to feel better. Stroking a cat, dog, or rabbit elevates serotonin levels in the brain, and some psychologists have even used pets in their therapy sessions. Being greeted by a purring cat or an ecstatic dog every time you return home can be a great self-esteem booster, especially if the world has not been on your side. This is also why pets are sometimes taken to elderly homes " they work wonders against loneliness and isolation.
Whether you have had to file for bankruptcy or end your marriage, a pet will love you regardless; and this unconditional love is the best remedy to ensure our health and happiness. - 14130
About the Author:
Andrew Mitchell, clinical director of the Osteopath Network, writes papers about musculo-skeletal conditions and Glasgow Osteopaths. The Osteopath Network has more than 550 clinics located throughout the UK and offers treatment at weekends and after hours.
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