Six Health Benefits of Pets
Submitted by
Alice Vaughn on October 25, 2013
Pets require a commitment of time, money, and care, but they
give back more than you may realize.
Getting a pet for your family might seem like an added chore for
mom and dad. Though pets do require an investment of time, money,
and care, research suggests that the health benefits of pets are
more than worth it. A family pet can get you and your kids to be
more physically active, improve everyone’s health, and help buffer
the effects of stress, not to mention the unconditional love and
affection a pet gives to its people.
Reaping the Benefits of Pets
Besides the sheer excitement of having a healthy pet, here’s how
you and your family can benefit:
- More physical activity. Dogs in particular
are likely to get you and your family up and moving, whether for
regular walks or some rambunctious play in the park. According
to research on the physical activity levels of 2,071 children in
England, published in the International Journal of
Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, having a pet
was strongly correlated with being more active — a great
antidote to hours spent sitting in front of a computer. This
relationship between pet ownership and physical activity holds
true even for teens, a notoriously tough group to get moving.
- Improved heart health. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting a pet can
lead to healthier triglycerides and blood pressure
levels. Results from a 20-year health study found that having a
cat offered protection against severe heart disease. Other
studies show that having a dog helps to lower your heart rate
and blood pressure, according to a research review published in Frontiers
in Psychology.
- Protection against allergies. “I’ve seen
research that says if you have a dog or cat in the home, there
might be some long-term reduction in risk for allergy,” says
pediatrician Jonathon Gold, MD, an associate professor of
pediatrics and human development at Michigan State University in
Lansing. One study, published in the journal Clinical and
Experimental Allergy, found that having a cat in the home
reduced the likelihood of wheezing, a symptom of allergic
response, among infants and toddlers. However, dog and cat
dander are strong asthma and allergy triggers for some people,
so don’t ignore this risk if you or another family member
already has an allergy.
- Empathy and caring. “Pet ownership teaches
all kids about empathy and caring,” says Dr. Gold. He advises
matching a child’s level of responsibility for the pet to the
child’s age and ability. For example, 5-year-old might be able
to assist with grooming, feeding, and walking but should not be
expected to do any of these chores by themselves. Kids of
middle-school age may be able to take on some solo family pet
care responsibility with reminders from a parent.
- Better social connections. Family pets
offer companionship, which may be particularly beneficial for
children who have special needs, such as autism, that can be
isolating, says Gold. According to research published in the Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology, pets may also help
make you or your children feel better after social
rejection. Other research has shown that getting a pet, such as
a dog, seems to improve social interactions between people.
- Better health management. A recent study
published in the journal Seizure looked at the benefits
of family pet ownership in households with someone living with
epilepsy. Researchers found that having a pet reduced seizures
and may reduce stress and improve patients’ coping skills. This
in turn reduced the impact of epilepsy and, possibly, other
chronic conditions.
Getting a Pet: A Few Simple Cautions
Remember that dogs, cats, and almost every other family pet you
invite into your home are still animals. Among young children, most
dog bites come from their own dogs or dogs they know well. “The
owner of the pet should watch and not leave the pet alone with the
child,” says Gold. Even well-trained animals can be provoked by a
young child who pushes, pokes, and pulls it and moves in unexpected
ways.
Gold advises teaching children from a young age not to make
sudden movements or loud noises around their own pets or other
people’s and to be aware that anything more forceful than gentle
pats can hurt an animal.
With care and training for both children and pets, getting a pet
can bring real and lasting benefits to the entire family. And that’s
an evidence-based argument to consider the next time your young
child asks for a puppy or kitten.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/family-health/health-benefits-of-pets.aspx
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