THE HEALING POWER OF PETS ...
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Research is just beginning to discover the mysterious healing powers of dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters, rabbits and other pets.
A wagging tail and a warm nose may be the best medicine there is. A furry friend can even save your life. Pets decrease our loneliness, give us something to watch, to tough and to care for ... they keep us busy, are a stimulus for healthy exercise and make us feel safe. Elderly pet owners are more socially adept, less lonely and depressed - their pets keep them in good health and can often provide more consistent emotional support than humans.
A pioneering study of social factors affecting the recovery of heart attack patients, showed that owning a pet was the strongest indicator of survival, even above such factors as having a supportive spouse! Whereas only two-thirds of those without pets survived the first year, 94% of animal owners were still happily walking their dogs or feeding their goldfish.
A pet's effect goes straight to the heart. Your blood pressure stays level or decreases when you are interacting with an animal. In fact, just gazing at a tank of fish - or knowing that a dog is lying in the corner of a room - has a soothing effect. Conversely, blood pressure tends to rise during conversations with other human beings.
The Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, showed that the health benefits of owning a pet were significantly far reaching. A study of 6,000 patients revealed that those with pets had lower blood pressure, a lower cholesterol level and, as a result, a diminished risk of heart attack.
Just as pets care about their owners and will always give you a warm welcome, they also give their owners someone to care about in return. The regular cycle of pet's care can bring structure and a sense of purpose to a person's life. Fondling pets is enormously comforting, reducing our state of arousal and, therefore, reducing blood pressure.
Medical establishments throughout Britain now recognise the value of companion animals. The charity, Pets as Therapy, has more than 8,000 members who share the pleasure of their dogs by taking them into hospitals, special schools and residential homes throughout Britain. 89 out of 115 hospices have their own resident animals - one even has a lamb.
Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist, points out that we need someone to say 'you're wonderful, you still matter'. Pets do this so generously and continuously - and without complaint.
A wagging tail and a warm nose may be the best medicine there is. A furry friend can even save your life. Pets decrease our loneliness, give us something to watch, to tough and to care for ... they keep us busy, are a stimulus for healthy exercise and make us feel safe. Elderly pet owners are more socially adept, less lonely and depressed - their pets keep them in good health and can often provide more consistent emotional support than humans.
A pioneering study of social factors affecting the recovery of heart attack patients, showed that owning a pet was the strongest indicator of survival, even above such factors as having a supportive spouse! Whereas only two-thirds of those without pets survived the first year, 94% of animal owners were still happily walking their dogs or feeding their goldfish.
A pet's effect goes straight to the heart. Your blood pressure stays level or decreases when you are interacting with an animal. In fact, just gazing at a tank of fish - or knowing that a dog is lying in the corner of a room - has a soothing effect. Conversely, blood pressure tends to rise during conversations with other human beings.
The Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, showed that the health benefits of owning a pet were significantly far reaching. A study of 6,000 patients revealed that those with pets had lower blood pressure, a lower cholesterol level and, as a result, a diminished risk of heart attack.
Just as pets care about their owners and will always give you a warm welcome, they also give their owners someone to care about in return. The regular cycle of pet's care can bring structure and a sense of purpose to a person's life. Fondling pets is enormously comforting, reducing our state of arousal and, therefore, reducing blood pressure.
Medical establishments throughout Britain now recognise the value of companion animals. The charity, Pets as Therapy, has more than 8,000 members who share the pleasure of their dogs by taking them into hospitals, special schools and residential homes throughout Britain. 89 out of 115 hospices have their own resident animals - one even has a lamb.
Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist, points out that we need someone to say 'you're wonderful, you still matter'. Pets do this so generously and continuously - and without complaint.