Healthy Reasons to Have a Pet Articles / Pet News Posted by Dr.Peay on Apr 04, 2006 - 12:57 PM Some facts collected by the <em>delta society</em> [1] about the healthy benefits of owning a pet. Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those who do not. In a study of 100 Medicare patients, even the most highly stressed dog owners in the study has 21 percent fewer physician's contacts than non-dog owners. Pet owners have lower blood pressure,lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners. Companionship of pets (particularly dogs) helps children in families adjust better to the serious illness and death of a parent. Pet owners have better psychological well-being. Children exposed to pets during the first year of life have a lower frequency of allergic rhintis and asthma. Seniors who own pets coped better with stress life events without entering the healthcare system. Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who may grow to be more nurturing adults. Medication costs dropped from an average of $3.80 per patient per day to just $1.18 per patient per day in new nursing home facilities in New York, Missouri and Texas having animals and plants as an integral part of the environment. Pet owners have higher one-year survival rates following coronary heart disease. Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality by 3%. This translates into 30,000 lives saved annually. Pet owners have better physical health due to exercise with their pets. Dogs are preventative and therapeutic measures against everyday stress. Children's cognitive development can be enhanced by owning a pet. Children owning pets are more involved in activities such as sports, hobbies, clubs, or chores. Pet owners feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when walking with a dog or sharing a residence with a dog. Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning a pet. 70% of families surveyed reported an increase in family happiness and fun after getting a pet. This article is from Peay Animal Hospital Inc.   http://www.drpeay.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.drpeay.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=43 Links in this article   [1] http://www.deltasociety.org/