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A heartfelt gift from man's best friend
May, 1998
Boys. Good news. The good life is back - you can have a drink, stock-up
on salty food, still attract women and have a healthy heart all at the
same time.
According to Ms Denise Humphries, Petcare Information and Advisory Service
even the catch is good fun - all you have to do is get yourself a pet.
"While we don't recommend giving up a healthy lifestyle - if you
are one of those young men who just can’t give up a few years as a young
lad - research suggests that a pet can help" she said.
Australian research indicates that pet ownership can lead to a possible
four per cent (4%) reduction in risk of heart disease - equivalent to
starting a low-salt diet or cutting down on alcohol.
The study by the Baker Medical Research Institute
found that pet owners had lower levels of accepted risk factors for
cardiovascular disease, including lower systolic blood pressure and
in men, lower cholesterol, than non pet owners. These findings were
not explicable on the basis of cigarette smoking, diet, body mass index
or socioeconomic profile.
And the news gets better.
If you are unfortunate enough to experience a heart attack, the single
biggest killer of people under the age of 70 in Australia, owning a
pet could be your ticket to post-attack survival.
An American study in 1980 found that pet owners had a greater chance
of survival one year after having a heart attack, than non-pet owners.
Of the 39 patients in the study who did not own pets, one year later,
11 had died. Of the 53 patients who did own pets, only three had died
one year on. These results have since been replicated in a larger study.
And what about attracting women?
Grab your dog and their favourite ball and get yourselves to the park.
Research indicates that simply because you are with your dog, people
will assume you’re a friendly fellow and subsequently will be more likely
to strike up a conversation with you - women included.
On an emotional front, research continues to suggest that pet owners,
when in the presence of their pet, deal better with stressful situations.
A recent US study found a pet dog to be more beneficial to a person’s
mental health, when they were placed in stressful situations, than either
a spouse or a friend.
And finally if you think going to the doctor is on par with a visit
to the dentist, friends of the four-legged variety can help you here
too. An Australian survey in 1994
found that pet owners visit all types of doctors less frequently and
use less medication than their pet-less counterparts.
The health benefits bestowed upon owners by their pets is not surprising
said Ms Humphries.
“Pets provide unconditional love. They don’t care whether you are young
or old, what kind of car you drive or whether or not you are good at
sport. They are non-judgmental, they are tight-lipped confidantes, they
are prepared to listen to the same story over and over again and they
are always happy to see you" she said.