Many people find that pets play a vital role in their lives. Animals can help with rehabilitation in speech and physical therapy as well as occupational therapy. Animals are valued for their companionship, and not just in therapeutic settings. Does companionship improve our health?
We can improve the lives of people by better understanding the bond between humans and animals. The article summarizes the facts and myths about animals’ ability to improve health and well-being of humans, as well as the possible implications for people without pets. 70 percent of American households have pets, and many people consider their pet members of the household. Some studies found that pet owners have healthier heart, are homeless, visit the doctor less, exercise more, and have less depression. The impact of pets on asthma, allergies and social interaction with others is also significant.
Effect on Physical and Mental Health
Companion pets may help improve your heart’s health. They can lower blood pressure, and regulate the heartbeat during stressful situations. Researchers in a study from 2002 measured the changes in blood pressure and heart rate among those with a cat or dog compared to people without, while participants underwent stress (performing a timed mathematics task). In a 2002 study, researchers measured the resting blood pressure and heart rate of people who owned a cat or dog at the start of the experiment compared to non-pet owners. The heart rate and blood pressure of people with dogs or cats were less likely to spike during the mathematical task. They also returned more quickly to their normal levels. Pet owners were studied both when their pets were in the room and when they were not. In both situations, pet owners showed better responses to cardiac stimuli. This was especially true when their pets were in the room. The math errors were also reduced when the pet owner was in the room. These findings showed that a cat or dog can lower the risk of developing heart disease and reduce stress.
In a similar study, it was found that stress can lower blood pressure more effectively when your dog is in the room than if you take ACE inhibitors. According to other research, stroking your pet’s fur can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
The presence of companion animals in children’s lives may reduce anxiety. One study, for example, measured the blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral stress in healthy children ages 3 to 6, at two doctor’s visits. A dog, unrelated to the child’s age group, was in the room at one of the visits. At the second visit, the dog had been removed. The children showed lower blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral stress when the dog was in the room. Research on the benefits of animal-child interaction for health is limited. More research is required to determine how pet pets affect child development, and health outcomes.
The social support that a pet can provide may help a person relax and reduce stress. Pets may provide less stress than friends or family, even though they can offer similar social support. Social support from a pet can also lead to more interactions between people and reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation. Walking with a pet dog, for example, has been shown to encourage social interactions, particularly with strangers.
Pet ownership may also enhance the well-being of elderly people. One study found that elderly people who owned a cat or dog were more able to do certain daily activities, such as climb stairs, bend down, kneel or stoop, take medications, prepare meals, and wash and dress themselves. In terms of their ability to do these tasks, there were no significant differences in the abilities between cat and dog owners. The level of affection or the duration of ownership of a cat or dog did not influence performance. Researchers found that companion animals had no impact on mental health, but suggested that caring for them could give an older person a feeling of purpose and responsibility that can contribute to their well-being.
In a large German study, over 9,000 individuals were asked to provide information about their pets (dogs, cats, horses, fish, birds, or any other type of pet) at two separate times in 1996 and 2001. Researchers included questions about health, economy, and employment in the survey to make sure respondents didn’t realize that researchers were interested in pets and their health. The researchers found that the people with pets in 1996 and 2001 were the least likely to visit the doctor. They were followed by those who acquired their pet after 2001. Those who didn’t have pets at any time made the most doctor visits.
The research on asthma and allergies is inconsistent. Some studies suggest that owning a cat could increase allergy sensitivity while other research suggests it may protect you from cat allergies. Dog allergies may not be affected by having a dog or they might even protect you from them. In a 2013 study, mice who were exposed to dog-related dust were less likely to develop allergies. Researchers discovered the protective effect is due to a type of bacteria in the gut which are often found among people who have dogs. There is still more research needed to determine the link between pets and allergies. However, it’s possible the effect of pets on allergies could depend on both the person’s age at the time of exposure as well as their type of animal. Children aged 6 or 7 who had a pet bird at home during the first year of their lives were more susceptible to respiratory problems like wheezing than children without a pet bird. Researchers say the exact timing is important as well. Researchers say that children who have dogs or cats at home in the first year are less likely than others to suffer from allergies.
Some human-pet relations are more fulfilling than others, just as with other relationships. Some people have a stronger bond with their pets than others, and this could affect the health of that person. Gender and marital situation may also play a part. One study, for example, found that dogs were associated with lower depression rates among women but not among men and single people but not among married individuals. Pet ownership may have positive effects on some individuals, but not all.
Children’s Emotional Development
Research shows that when a child does not have brothers and sisters, pets can help them develop more empathy, a higher sense of self, and an increased interest in physical and social activities.
Measuring Positive Impacts from Pets
It is hard to understand the effect that human-animal interactions have on our health. The majority of evidence about the health benefits of owning a dog or cat comes from health surveys. However, it’s impossible to tell if someone is healthy because they have a pet. Or if their health makes them more likely to adopt a new pet. A person with poor health may not want to take care of a pet because he doesn’t have time. According to the German study, having pets for longer periods of time can be beneficial to health. However, it’s also possible that pet owners have less spare time or less concern about their health.
People who are passionate about their pets will also want to tell researchers how their pets have improved their life. The study could be biased by this.
A second issue concerns the definition of “pet”. Has a pet golden retriever the same benefits to your health as a pet goldfish? The majority of pet studies involved people with a cat or dog, so it is difficult to make conclusions regarding the health benefits of other animals, such as birds, lizards or fish. The type of pet a person has could have a strong influence on how much time they spend with their pet, and this could, in turn affect the health benefits.
Temporary companions
Scientists have used pets to provide temporary companionship for children or seniors with mental or physical health issues, who might not be able to care for an animal permanently. These studies don’t always produce consistent results. However, there are some positive outcomes of working with therapy dogs, including reduced pain and anxiety in hospitalized adults and children, and increased attention and interaction for children with developmental disorders and autism. Interaction with dogs visiting nursing homes has resulted in more social behavior, increased interaction between residents and reduced loneliness.
There is evidence to suggest that even a brief interaction with an animal companion can have many benefits. However, research is inconsistent and often conducted with small groups.
The Bottom Line
It is a good idea to continue research on the impact of human-animal interactions on our health. It is not yet clear which animals affect what health problems (mental, physical, or social) and we don’t know what aspects of human-animal interactions are the most significant. We don’t yet know what conditions are likely to produce these benefits, even though pet owners know they exist. Research that shows that certain health benefits are possible under particular circumstances can help to influence policies that will benefit more children and adults.