LIVE LONGER – OWN A PET!
Pets provide their owners with unconditional love and companionship. Now there’s evidence that owning a pet is also good for your health.
Owning a pet has been proven to increase the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6% of heart patients without pets.
Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2% lower that the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4%.
Owning a pet can reduce blood pressure as effectively as eating a low-salt diet or reducing alcohol intake. In fact, the same study has shown that 40% of the elderly sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.
Nursing homes that use a companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs.
Health benefits are simply one more reason for adopting a pet. Pets make wonderful, loving companions. Consider adding a pet to your household. Talk to one of the Pet Health Care Team members at Upper Canada Animal Hospital for guidance on finding a good match for your family. It’s good for your health!
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