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

October 7, 2002

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DR.WEIL'S WEEKLY WELLNESS BULLETIN

Your Guide To Optimal Health

Vol. 1, Issue 54 October 08, 2002

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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.

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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

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