Jul 18 2008
Pet Perks
Pet Ownership - A Key to Good Health?
After doing a little research, I have found some great articles on the connection between good health and pet ownership. No matter your illness or challenges, pets can be beneficial in many ways. Click here and here to find two more articles devoted to this topic. If you are interested in discovering more about the benefits of having a pet when you have fibromyalgia, you must check out this article entitled Fibro and Fido - The Healing Power of Pets. Here are a couple of points stated in the article from Bella Online.
“The presence of a companion animal in the home, particularly a dog, has a beneficial impact on a fibromyalgia patient. Surprisingly, the majority of fibro sufferers do not find owning pets a burden, but rather a method of helping them to keep in touch with the outside world.”
“They claim their pets have a soothing effect when they are anxious, depressed or experiencing pain.”
“Studies show that having a dog can strengthen the heart, improve circulation and slow loss of bone tissue. Dog walking, pet grooming, and even petting can help lower a person’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can release mood-altering chemicals into the bloodstream.”
“Walking slowly, or at a quick pace outdoors is also a great way to keep active. Fibromyalgia patients can get very depressed if housebound, and not able to interact with other people. It’s very hard to ignore the world when you have a dog that wants to say “hello” to every passerby.”
5 Responses to “Pet Perks”
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In one study after age, race, education level, number of assets, family income, and site were adjusted for “dog owners” were more likely than “non–pet owners” to have engaged in non-exercise-related walking in the preceding week.
SOURCE:Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., et al. Physical Activity and Pet Ownership in Year 3 of the Health ABC Study. JAPA, 14(2), April 2006.
I love animals. They calm me a lot. It’s hard to be mad when a handsome face is looking at me wanting his head scratched.
very interesting article. on most issues I agree with the author:)
i agreed with author. thanksq
i agreed with author. thanksqz