| Dogs have always been fantastic companions, but | | | | levels of triglycerides and cholesterol can lead to |
| they're also great for your health. Were you aware | | | | heart disease and stroke. |
| that owning a dog provides owners with a number of | | | | 3) A Healthy Mind: People who own dogs have also |
| positive health benefits? | | | | been shown to have better mental health than their |
| Keep reading to learn how your dog can help lower | | | | non-dog-owning counterparts. A steady companion |
| your blood cholesterol levels, maintain mental | | | | provides unconditional love, affection, a stabilizing |
| wellness, reduce the number of your visits to the | | | | presence, and a sense of responsibility that can be |
| doctor and increase recovery times after illness. | | | | crucial to mental well-being. |
| 1) A Healthy Body: Both Cambridge University and | | | | In fact, another study by UCLA found that of 1800 |
| the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) | | | | AIDS patients, those who did not own a pet were |
| have published studies that showed pet owners have | | | | more than twice as likely to cite symptoms of |
| fewer visits to the doctor than non-owners and a | | | | depression. A study by the University of Pennsylvania |
| generally superior sense of health. In addition, | | | | showed that Animal Assisted Therapy can help with |
| Medicare conducted a study of its elderly users that | | | | ADHD symptoms, Alzheimer's, and developmental |
| showed those who were dog owners visited the | | | | disabilities. Dogs are also used with a number of |
| doctor less than their non-dog-owning counterparts. | | | | mental health patients to ward off depression and |
| 2) A Strong Heart: Studies have shown that dog | | | | episodic bouts. |
| owners, as a whole, have lower cholesterol rates and | | | | 4) A Speedy Recovery: One study at the City |
| blood pressure than non-owners. Both cholesterol and | | | | Hospital in New York reported that pet ownership so |
| blood pressure are crucial to your cardiovascular | | | | drastically affected survival rates that it surpassed |
| health and can drastically affect your risk - positively | | | | the presence of friends or family in terms of impact. |
| or negatively - for heart disease and stroke. | | | | There's a reason many hospitals and nursing homes |
| One study from the New York State University used | | | | allow pet visitation along with special animal therapy |
| high-pressure stockbrokers as its subjects and | | | | programs - it's been proven that patients will respond |
| showed that not only did stroking a pet reduce their | | | | more easily to treatment and have a higher survival |
| blood pressure, but that reduction continued even | | | | rate when therapeutically engaged with an animal. |
| when the animal wasn't there. Their conclusion? Pet | | | | Of course, an animal is more than a crutch or a form |
| ownership can lead to a sustained lower blood | | | | of therapy - it's also a wonderful and loving friend |
| pressure. | | | | that requests little more than a little attention and |
| In another study by the Baker Institute of Australia, | | | | meals. If you're looking for a companion, though, |
| pet owners were shown to have lower cholesterol | | | | consider the health benefits and joy that a dog can |
| levels and lower levels of triglycerides - a type of | | | | offer into the life of someone who simply needs a |
| blood fat - in their blood than non-owners. Again, high | | | | reliable friend. |