Healthy living
Anti-ageings
Dog owners live longer
If you want to enjoy a longer, healthier life then research suggests that getting a dog may be an effective strategy
A report published in the British Journal of Health Psychology reviewed dozens of previous research papers on the benefits of pet ownership.
In her report, Dr Deborah Wells, a psychologist from Queen's University, Belfast, said dog owners tended to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Supporting her claim, a study of more than 5000 people at the Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne found that pet owners had significantly lower systolic blood pressure and harmful blood fats than non-owners.
"It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress," said Dr Wells, "The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contact, which may enhance both physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner."
Having a dog as a pet resulted in fewer medical complaints and there was some evidence that dogs could help their owners' recovery from serious illnesses such as heart attacks.
Specially trained dogs can also act as an early-warning system to detect an imminent epileptic seizure. The UK-based charity, Support Dogs, which is backed by the National Society for Epilepsy, has already trained over 25 seizure-alert dogs. They can give their owners an accurate warning of between 20 - 45 minutes before an attack.
Dr Wells' report found that pet owners tend to be healthier in general, but dogs appear to have a more positive influence on health than cats.
The report noted that people who took cats and dogs from animal rescue shelters noticed a decrease in minor ailments but only dog owners maintained the improvements 10 months later.
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.