Re: OT, and not the first time I've heard this, but interesting

October 8, 2002

I can attest personally to the health benefits of pets. Who could not feel

loved when you have wagging tails or purring kitties sitting in your lap. I

worry more about my two pugs than I do about myself sometimes. They are my

babies as anyone who has ever been to my house realizes immediately.

Unfortunately they don't need a lot of walking either. But they go once

around the block with mommy just to sniff the bushes and then they get to go

take a nap at home while I finish my walking. As I am writing this Sophie is

sitting at the front door looking at me waiting for her walkie! Abby is

asleep on my foot. I wouldn't trade them or ever be without a pet again.

Martha H

& Abby and Sophie

Hill Ca

OT, and not the first time I've heard this, but

interesting

>

> ******************************************************************

> DR.WEIL'S WEEKLY WELLNESS BULLETIN

> Your Guide To Optimal Health

> Vol. 1, Issue 54 October 08, 2002

> ******************************************************************

>

> LESS STRESS WITH PETS

>

> Pet owners have fewer illnesses than others - and recover

> faster when they do get sick -- have lower blood pressure,

> are less likely to be depressed, and have higher self-esteem

> than people who don't have pets.

>

> New research now suggests that the company of pets can

> help combat stress. Faced with a stressful task pet owners

> didn't respond as strongly to stress as those whose animals

> were absent but had a friend or spouse present.

>

> A study from the State University of New York at Buffalo

> showed that among married couples with normal blood

> pressure, participants given mental arithmetic tests showed

> only a seven point increase in blood pressure when their

> pets were with them compared with 35 point increases when

> a friend or spouse was present. Without any company, blood

> pressure jumped about 25 points.

>

> The researchers concluded that their results were further

> evidence of the health benefits of having a pet.

> ------------------------------

>

> 13 years ago, I read something to the effect that dog-owners have a lower

> incidence of heart attack. Analytical creature that I am, I sat and

wondered

> if owning an animal made the difference, or if it was the personality-type

> who'd bother having one, was the deciding factor in preventing heart

attacks.

> However, MO and with no incentive to exercise, I figured if I got a dog,

I'd

> HAVE to take walks, just to exercise the pet, and just might prevent a

heart

> attack as well. So I bought a toy poodle, dear love of my life from the

> moment I first held her. But, guess what? Poodles don't NEED to be walked.

> Since then, of course, I took even more proactive steps to avoid heart

attack

> by getting WLS. And now when I do take the pooch with me on my

> walks-------she can't keep up with ME! Too old and arthritic, I guess.

Poops

> out in 10 minutes and I end up carrying her back to the house.

>

> Carol A

> Dog lover

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

October 8, 2002

Carol A, LOL I have ALWAYS felt that pets were good for the soul as well

as the heart. But then you are talking to a woman who until two weeks

ago had six dogs. Started out with one...he needed a playmate. So then

we had two. Then got a new man in my life....he liked a different look

of dog....so we got another dog.....then there were three......then we

got involved in the dog club of the dog that the new husband

wanted......two old rescues came in our lives.....then there were

Five.....and at last I finally was able to get a dog to show (always a

long time dream) and then there were SIX!!!!! You know.....I can feed

six dogs in under 15 min! Unfortunately we lost one of the old rescues a

few weeks ago. Fred now sits on our mantle........OK....we had him

cremated! Sheesh ......when he was alive he was TOO ...ehmm...ROUND....

To sit on the mantle.

BTW.........my blood pressure is around 118/60 .......... So the dog

thing is working for me. LOL

Debbie in Gig Harbor

ladybostons@...

www.paws2print.com

October 8, 2002