Animal Magic

Fortnightly Tenerife News,(Spain)


As a nation of animal lovers many of us often prefer our four-legged friends to our human ones and it’s not difficult to see why. Animals offer unconditional love, companionship and fun, but did you also know that owning a pet can reduce blood pressure, alleviate depression, conquer stress and release feel-good endorphins that make you feel happy?

Its true, and it doesn’t seem to matter what type of pet you have, from parrot to poodle – interaction with any animal can produce these health benefits. According to a recent study, owning a pet not only helps you to keep down stress levels, it may also help to prevent heart disease and depression. Even watching a tank full of tropical fish can lower blood pressure, at least for a while. Remarkably, studies have also shown that heart-attack victims who keep pets tend to live longer.
The publisher of the pet information website petclubuk.com, Chris Jones, says looking after a pet brings out our nurturing instinct and makes us feel safe and unconditionally accepted. “Pets make wonderful, loving companions and everyone should consider having one as part of their household,” he says. “The chances are you’ll live longer and feel better by owning a pet.”
If you thought only dogs and cats were good for your health you couldn’t be more wrong. “It doesn’t matter what pet you get. It could be a dog, cat, parrot, a goldfish or snake. The only thing that matters is that the animal really interests you.
“It is important that the pet you choose fits your temperament, lifestyle and living space and that the chemistry is compatible before you take a pet into your home, otherwise it could be the source of additional stress,” he says.
Among the many medical studies that claim owning a pet is good for your heart, one suggests that stroking an animal prompts your brain to release endorphins or “feel-good hormones”. This helps you feel calm and therefore lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
This is supported by claims that families owning a dog or cat are not as stressed and visit their doctors less often than those who don’t, say scientists from Cambridge University. Pets make you feel optimistic and relaxed, which lowers your blood pressure. Dogs give the best results, as you get exercise when you take them for walks. Studies show that older people who own pets are more healthy and active than those who don’t.
As well as feeling more healthy, pet owners are less likely to suffer anxiety, loneliness and will have more confidence than people without pets. There is also a positive effect on their emotional health and people who live alone with a pet are less likely to be depressed than those without animal company.
But pets don’t just brighten up your mood. Some could actually save your life. Many animals can warn their owners about oncoming illness and there are many reports about dogs detecting cancer, while some can identify other types of illness, such as hypoglycaemia (dangerously-low blood sugar levels) in diabetics and oncoming epileptic fits.
These health benefits of owning a pet are strong reasons to get one, but consider all the options first and do your homework. Animals are a huge responsibility and although they may seem like fun, there is a lot of hard work involved as well. The Petclub website offers a wealth of advice and tips on how to choose the right pet for you and on keeping it happy and healthy too.