A study found that stockbrokers given pets to keep them company during stress tests saw reduced blood pressure increases compared to those just taking medication. Having a pet can reduce anxiety and loneliness, as older people with pets are less likely to be depressed than those without. Pets provide companionship and responsibility for children, and can help people find meaning and joy in life.
8. A fascinating study, presented at the American Heart
Association Scientific Conference, demonstrated how
addition of a pet to your lifestyle can help. Researchers
used a group of male and female stockbrokers, who
were already beginning to show the effects of their
stressful life style, and who were candidates for
medication to lower their blood pressure. The
researchers first evaluated the brokers' blood pressure
under conditions of stress.
9. They did this by producing a stressful situation that
might produce the same kinds of stress that these
stockbrokers typically face. They were next given
speeded numerical tasks and asked to role-play a
situation in which they had to talk their way out of
an awkward position. In response to these stressful
tasks, their average blood pressure shot up to
184/129 mm of mercury (any blood pressure of
140/90 mm of mercury is considered high).
10. Each of the stockbrokers then was prescribed the
same medication, however half of them also agreed
to get a dog or a cat for a pet. Six months later the
researchers called them back and gave them
additional stress tests. Those stockbrokers who had
now acquired a pet were allowed to keep the pet with
them when they took their stress tests and the results
were remarkable. The brokers who had the combined
therapy (both a pet and medication) now showed a
rise in stress related blood pressure that was only half
as large as the brokers who were only treated with
the medication.
11. PROVIDES
COMPANIONSHIP
• People with inadequate human social support can really benefit from
pet ownership and the emotional bonds that pets provide. With the
weakening of extended family ties, older people are particularly at risk of
becoming lonely, isolated and depressed. Research looked at 60 years
of age and older, who were not living with human companions, but were
living with a pet. The likelihood that the non-pet owners would end up
being diagnosed as clinically depressed was four times higher that that
found in the pet owning people of the same age. There was also
evidence that the pet owners required fewer medical services and were
much more satisfied with their lives.
12. CHANGE LIFESTYLE
• Researchers found that dogs provide support in similar ways to
a human buddy, but with a greater consistency and without
negative influence