Secret life of pet owners is full of health benefits
THE dog has long been known as man’s best friend and research shows that having your pet with you at work can make you calmer.
But if your boss won’t let you take Rover to the office, don’t worry – we’ve discovered a whole list of surprising health benefits you can get from pets when you walk through your front door at home. It has been found that pets can help us to recover from illness and surgery quicker.
In a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, survivors of a heart attack were monitored for 12 months. The ones who were still alive were more likely to own a dog than those who had died. Owning a pet increases the release of endorphins and other feel-good hormones.
Residents at a nursing home in Australia were noticeably more cheerful six months after getting a dog. They keep the doctor at bay It has been proven that pet owners enjoy better general health than those who don’t have an animal to care for.
The Companion Animal Research Group in Cambridge found people who bought a pet showed an improvement in their health in just a month. And over a 10-month study, they had fewer illnesses such as headaches and colds. You don’t even have to stroke or cuddle your pet to reap the stress-busting benefits of owning an animal. Merely being in the same room has been shown to lower stress levels, reduce heartbeat and ease blood pressure.
A research team at the University of Pennsylvania found watching a fish tank before a dental appointment had the same calming effect as a session of hypnosis. The Beckhams had the right idea buying a Shar Pei for their children.
Studies show that kids who are exposed to animals from a young age develop stronger immune systems. Children who live with a pet during the first year of their life are less likely to suffer from allergies and asthma when they are older, according to a research team in Sweden and a separate study of German children.
Pets can help us to recover from illness quicker
Owning a pet was as effective in helping to reduce high blood pressure as eating a low-salt diet or cutting down on alcohol, according to research by Australia’s Baker Institute. There’s no better incentive to exercise than having a wagging tail reminding you it’s time for a walk.
A recent study at Wolverhampton University showed short bouts of walking – 20 minutes three times a week – have amazing health benefits.
Study leader Professor Bird said this is because walking raises the heartbeat, which maintains a healthy heart and lungs.
It also makes our muscles use oxygen more efficiently, which in turn burns up fat more quickly.