Surprising Health Benefits for Pet Owners

Did you know that there are key health benefits that can result from owning a pet?

Having one can enhance your physical, mental and social well being.

1. How can a pet help your physical health?

Owning a dog, for instance, will encourage you to get more exercise.
With your faithful friend at your side, you're much more likely to go for a walk.

Walking is one of the best health activities you can do. While walking you're also more likely to socially interact with your neighbors because your special pal often acts as an ice-breaker.

Research led by Dr. Karen Allen at the State University of New York at Buffalo shows that pets can help lower blood pressure.

Stockbrokers with high blood pressure were studied to see what happened when they adopted a pet dog or cat.

Researchers concluded that having a pet nearby helps control increases in blood pressure due to stress.

In his studies Alan Beck, ScD (Professor of Animal Ecology,Purdue University) found that the simple act of petting
your dog slows your heart rate and causes your blood pressure to drop.

An added health advantage from pet ownership is that patients may live longer after heart attacks.

Some doctors recommend that a heart attack survivor adopt a dog because research has shown that a faithful canine companion can help prolong an owner's life.

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