Joe says:

This is not as offbeat as it may sound. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that those who keep pets are likely to benefit from improvements in physical and emotional well-being. Indeed, pets seem to be particularly therapeutic for people with or at risk for heart disease. Several years ago, researchers studied patients in a coronary-care unit at a major hospital. All had experienced a major heart attack or had severe chest pain. In the one-year follow up period, 28% of those who did not own pets had died, as compared with only 6% of per owners. Critics said these findings might simply reflect an association; in other words, those who felt better had taken on the responsibility of caring for a pet. Yet even when other factors like physical health and severity of heart disease were accounted for, pet ownership remained an independent predictor of survival.

People with pets seem to handle stress better and have lower blood pressure. In addition, many behavioral scientists contend that loneliness, isolation, depression and hostility - all powerful predictors of adverse health outcomes - may be partially alleviated by the companionship of pets. Some experts believe this may stem from active involvement in the daily care of pets and from the unconditional love and acceptance that the animals offer their owners.

And finally, dogs in particular have a positive effect on health because of a second factor: walking them is great exercise!
1 | Jul. 22, 2008 at 8:13am