An interesting review of studies in the British Medical Journal
may shed some light on why pet ownership is beneficial to human
health.
Decades of Research
Many years of research has shown that pet ownership can result
in benefits such as:
- Higher survival rates after heart
attacks
- Reduced risk of asthma in children exposed to pet
allergens during the first year of life
- Reduced risk of
cardiovascular disease
- Better physical and psychological
wellcbeing in community-dwelling older people
An Emotional Bond
The reasons are apparently not as simple as to whether a pet has
a measurably beneficial effect on the owner's physical health;
the emotional bond between owner and pet may confer
psychological benefits similar to human relationships.
Stress Reduction
Pet ownership may exert a direct effect on human health and
well-being through the nature of the relationship; it may reduce
perceptions of stressful events, and therefore protect against
anxiety-related illness. This can also aid in recovery from
serious illness such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and
cancer.
A Broader Definition of Health
The review concludes by noting that a broader definition of
health may be needed to truly allow for understanding of the
effect of pets. People do not own pets specifically to enhance
their health; instead, they value the relationship and the
contribution their pet makes to their quality of life.
British Medical Journal November 26, 2005; 331(7527): 1252-1254
Dr. Mercola's Comment:Recently, I told you how visits from a
dog measurably improved the mental health of heart disease
patients in a hospital setting. There is endless documentation
of exactly how pets can be beneficial to your health.
It's interesting that this review concluded that the reasons why
may lie in "a broader definition" of good health that
encompasses improved physical and mental well-being and
socialization. In other words, better and more natural solutions
that have nothing at all to do with taking potentially toxic
drugs.
This is yet more evidence that there is more to the world of
health than drugs and surgery, which is why I am so dedicated to
spreading my vision of a health care system based on natural
cures that address the true roots of diseases -- roots like
psychological stresses and lack of social interaction, which,
according to this review of studies, are:
"A major risk factor for health, rivaling the effects of
cigarette smoking, blood pressure, blood lipid concentrations,
obesity, and lack of physical activity."
In fact, the intrinsic non-humanity of pets actually confers
certain advantages to their owners; namely, their relationships
are much more even-keeled and don't provide the kinds of strains
ones between humans do.
If you want to maintain that relationship for many years to
come, you'll want to review articles I've posted by contributing
editors Beth Taylor and Steve Brown, experts in the fields of
holistic pet health and nutrition.
About the author:
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most
visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a
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