Live Longer - Own A Pet
Live Longer - Own a Pet
Pets provide their owners with unconditional love and companionship. Now there's evidence that owning a pet is also good for your health.
A study by the US Department of Health concluded that pets increased the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6% of heart patients without pets.
Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2% lower than the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4%.
Owning a pet can reduce blood pressure as effectively as eating a low-salt diet or reducing alcohol intake.
A US survey of 1,000 Medicare patients showed that 40% of the elderly sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.
Nursing homes that use companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs. The overall cost of caring for seniors also dropped.
Health benefits are simply one more reason for adopting a pet. Pets make wonderful, loving companions. Consider adding a pet to your household. Your veterinarian can help you research the best pet for your family.