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 About
Your Mood Mood
Research
 The
Positive Power of Puppy Love On Mood
In a survey taken by the American Animal
Hospital Association, 57 percent of pet owners indicated
that if they were stranded on a desert island, they would
prefer the company of their pet to another human. Simply
put, it makes us happy to experience the wagging tails,
enthusiastic greetings, amusing antics and utter devotion
of our pets. And research demonstrates that, on average,
pets help keep their owners healthy and active. Some insurance
companies have even started offering lower life insurance
rates for pet owners.
MayoClinic.com spoke with Edward Creagan,
M.D., an oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., about
the health rewards of having a pet.
Having a pet may benefit people with
what types of medical conditions?
There is very good evidence that pets
have a positive impact on a number of health conditions.
A study published in the April 1999 edition of the journal
AIDS Care found that people with AIDS who have pets
are less likely to suffer from depression than do people
with AIDS who don't own pets. Several studies also have
demonstrated that pet owners tend to have lower cholesterol
and blood pressure levels than non-pet owners do and are
therefore at a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research indicates also that pet ownership
increases the odds of survival for people who have had a
heart attack. A study published in the American Journal
of Cardiology in 1995 found that dog ownership in particular
increased the likelihood of surviving after a heart attack.
Pet ownership also offers many benefits
to older people. A study published in the March 1999 Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society showed that senior
citizens who own pets are less likely to be depressed, are
better able to tolerate social isolation and are more active
than those who do not own pets. And these increased levels
of activity are not explained solely because dog owners
take their dogs for walks. Cat owners are equally active.
Why do you think pets have such a
positive influence on our health?
We all need something to live for and
something to focus on beside ourselves. Self-absorption
is terrible for your health. Pets offer us unconditional
love, which is of significant benefit to our overall well-being.
Studies have shown that interacting with pets is more beneficial
to our blood pressure than interacting with friends, because
even friends are perceived as being judgmental. But we know
our pets will accept us, no matter what we say.
I think part of the reason we connect
so strongly with animals may be their emotional depth. For
example, it's well-documented that elephants mourn and even
cry. And anyone who has a pet knows that the love it feels
for you is a powerful thing.
How do the health benefits provided
by pets compare to those provided by other family or friends?
A relationship with a pet offers unique
benefits. Pets depend on us, whereas family may not, and
it feels good to be needed. In fact, being needed motivates
us to stay well. And pets don't expect an inheritance!
Source: MayoClinic.com
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