About two-thirds of U.S. households own at least one pet. People have lots of reasons for owning them. But a small but growing body of research suggests that owning or interacting with animals may have the added benefit of improving your health.
Some of the largest and most well-designed studies in this field suggest that four-legged friends can help to improve ourcardiovascular health. One National Institutes of Health-funded study looked at 421 adults who had suffered heart attacks. A year later, dog owners were significantly more likely to still be alive than were those who did not own dogs, regardless of the severity of the heart attack.
Another study looked at 240 married couples. Those who owned a pet were found to have lower heart rates and blood pressure, whether at rest or when undergoing stressful tests, than those without pets. Pet owners also seemed to have milder responses and quicker recovery from stress when they were with their pets than when they were with a spouse or friend.
Several studies have shown that dog owners may get more exercise than the rest of us. One study looked at more than 2,000 adults and found that dog owners who regularly walked their dogs were more physically active and less likely to be obese than those who didn’t own or walk a dog. Another study followed more than 2,500 older adults, ages 71-82, for 3 years. Those who regularly walked their dogs walked faster and for longer time periods each week than others who didn’t walk regularly.
Pets may also influence a smoker’s decision to quit. Among smokers in a study of almost 3,300 residents of southeastern Michigan, one in three said that knowing that smoking was bad for the health of a pet would prompt them to give it up. Further, almost one in ten pet-owning non-smokers said they would ask a partner to quit.
Man’s best friend may help you make more human friends, too. Several studies have shown that walking with a dog leads to more conversations and helps you stay socially connected. And studies have clearly shown that people who have more social relationships tend to live longer and are less likely to show mental and physical declines as they grow older.
Pets are not a cure-all. They won't cure cancer or heart disease. But for many people, the right pet can provide benefits that last a lifetime.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Additional resources:
Learn more. WebMD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Pets web site both provide more information about the health benefits of pets.
Get active with your pet. Consider participating in the Furry 5Kfun run and walk on June 7, 2009. The race encourages participants to run or walk with their dogs.
Looking for a pet? The King County Animal Shelter usually holds its Super Pet Adopt-a-thon in late June.
Get health benefits without ownership. If you can’t own a pet, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter. Many offer dog walking and other programs that let you interact with animals, allowing you to get some of the health benefits without the responsibility of ownership.
About two-thirds of U.S. households own at least one pet. People have lots of reasons for owning them. But a small but growing body of research suggests that owning or interacting with animals may have the added benefit of improving your health.