Must Love Pets

I live by myself, but every time I open that door there is not one, but two beings so happy to see me you'd think I had gone to China and back (when in fact I only went to the store next to my building.) Yes they jump, they kiss (lick) and wag their tails with such euphoria!!! Even if I was having the worse day ever up until then I can't help but smile. Emma and Lucy are my constant companions, even as I write this they are playing at my feet.

The physical and medical benefits of pets to your health is scientifically proven. Here are some of the amazing benefits to owning a furry friend: 

• Dog ownership increases the odds for survival in persons who have had a heart attack from 1 in 15 to 1 in 87. Pet ownership also has increased the percent of people who survived at least one year after hospitalization for heart problems. Only 6% of nonpet owners survived versus 28% of people with pets. Pet ownership may be only one of several variables that influenced this improved survival, but even a 2-3% difference is significant. In addition, pets may actually lessen the risk of heart attacks. 

• People with pets have been found to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared to people who did not have pets, even when matched for weight, diet, and smoking habits.Dogs have been shown to reduce blood pressure in a number of populations. Studies in women undergoing stress tests, have demonstrated that the presence of a dog had more of an effect on lowering blood pressure than the presence of friends. Similarly, children who had a dog present during their physical examination showed lower heart rate, blood pressure, and behavioral distress than when the dog was not present. Stockbrokers who had dogs or cats in their offices when they had to carry out stressful tasks had smaller increases in blood pressure than those who did not have a pet present. 

• People who own pets often have better physical health due to the need to exercise and care for their pets. 

• The use of prescription drugs and the overall cost of caring for patients in nursing homes dropped in those facilities where companion animals became part of the therapy. A study also found that for persons living at home, those with pets had fewer medical appointments and minor health problems. 

• Some people who have periodic seizures have reported that their dogs can sense the onset of a seizure before they can. Now it has been found that dogs can be specially trained to recognize some type of change prior to a seizure, and signal the owner of the imminent seizure. This gives the owner sufficient time to prepare, such as moving away from a hot stove. These dogs are called 'seizure-alert' or 'seizure-response' dogs, and can be trained to signal their owners from 15 to 45 minutes prior to a seizure. In addition to the tremors and stiffness that Parkinson's patients experience, they also face a problem called 'freezing.' Their feet freeze in place while the rest of their body keeps moving, causing the person to fall. As a result, some people with Parkinson's may tend to become sedentary, reluctant to move, and reclusive. (info from http://www.peteducation.com)

So if your serious about living a healthy lifestyle try adding a pet to your life. Go to your local shelter, www.petfinder.com or my *favorite* www.saveasato.org where you can give a street dog a second chance at life!