Pet ownership can keep your heart purring like a kitten
Stoney Creek News
Fri 06 Jan 2006
Page: 13 / Front
Section: Health & Wellness
Byline: Peggy Chapman
Source: Stoney Creek News
Dogs are man's best friend in more ways than one. New research shows loving a pet not only makes us happier - it makes us healthier.
According to statistics from St. Joseph's Healthcare mental health department, depression will rank second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide by the year 2020. Mental health claims (especially depression) have overtaken cardiovascular disease as the fastest growing category of disability costs in the country.
Health care specialists have been urging Canadians to focus on preventive care, including lifestyle changes.
A study conducted at Australia's University of New England found people who own a cat may experience fewer psychiatric disturbances than those without cats. The study claims pets help their owners overcome depression through their companionship and unconditional love. They seem to possess the natural ability to help the owner relax and enjoy life more.
A different study, published in the journal AIDS Care found people with AIDS who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression than people with AIDS who don't own pets.
MENTAL HEALTH COSTS $14.4 BILLION
The Canadian economy loses billions to mental health problems. In 1998, Health Canada estimated the economic burden of mental health problems was $14.4 billion a year. More recent calculations, which include indirect costs, suggest that upwards of $30 billion is lost in Canada annually due to mental health and addiction problems. Some American insurance companies have started offering lower life insurance rates for pet owners.
Owning a dog not only offers companionship, it also increases the odds for survival in persons who have had a heart attack from one- in-15 to one- in- 87. Pet ownership also increased the percentage of people who survived at least one year after hospitalization for heart problems. Only six per cent of non-pet owners survived versus 28 per cent of people with pets.
In a survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, 57 per cent of pet owners indicated that if they were stranded on a desert island, they would prefer the company of their pet to another human.
Hamilton's SPCA confirms the recent studies.
"Some healthcare specialists will say there is no hard evidence, but we seen wonderful responses from our pet therapy programs," said Michael Guster, volunteer manager at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. "At Wentworth Lodge alone we have seen residents who had no signs of mobility previously, begin to pet and respond to pets. In almost every case, the response is positive. The patients eyes get bigger and some begin to hum, or weep tears of happiness. It's a feel-good program."
Mr. Guster's own dog, Quincie the border collie, participates in many local pet therapy programs. The SPCA's program is so successful they are in need of support and more volunteers to help.
"We now serve the program for 50 different organizations and there is a waiting list," said Mr. Guster.
Alan Beck, professor of animal ecology at Purdue University found that the simple act of petting your dog slows your heart rate and causes your blood pressure to drop.
The same research shows people with pets have been found to have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared to people who did not have pets, even when matched for weight, diet and smoking habits.
DOGS REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE
Dogs have been shown to reduce blood pressure in children and adults. Studies in women undergoing stress tests, have show the presence of a dog had more of an effect on lowerig blood pressure than the presence of friends. Similarly, children who had a dog present during their physical examination showed lower heart rate, blood pressure, and behavioral distress than when the dog was not present.
Pet ownership also offers many benefits to older people. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed 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, according to the publication.
The use of prescription drugs, including antidepressants and the overall cost of caring for patients in nursing homes dropped in those facilities where companion animals became part of the therapy. A study also found that for persons living at home, those with pets had fewer medical appointments and minor health problems.
St. Joseph's research shows high stress levels and mental health problems can cause other health conditions. Excessive stress has been linked to infectious disease and cardiovascular problems, higher incidence of back pain, repetitive strain injuries and colorectal cancer. Stress on the job can double the risk of heart attack.
St. Joseph's has developed a comprehensive variety of clinics and outpatient services providing highly specialized care to hundreds of patients every year.
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