18 Feb 2008 04:53:04 | James Jacobson
Science has finally caught up with what dog lovers have known
for years--that having a dog is great for your health. Here are
six ways science has proven that living with a dog promotes
better heart health.
Decreased cholesterol and triglycerides. Lower cholesterol and
triglycerides reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Results of a three-year study of over 5,700 people showed that
those who lived with pets, including dogs, had lower blood
pressure and triglyceride and cholesterol levels than did
non-pet-owners, even after accounting for additional exercise,
smoking, diet, weight, and socioeconomic profile.
Lowered blood pressure. Women undergoing stress tests have lower
blood pressure in the presence of dog than they have in the
presence of a friend. The simple act of petting your dog causes
your blood pressure to drop. What's more, the lowered blood
pressure stays in effect even when the dog is no longer present.
Improved chance of surviving a heart attack. A study conducted
by the US Department of Health concluded that 28% of heart
patients with pets, including dogs, survived serious heart
attacks, compared with only 6% of patients who did not have a
pet, even after accounting for factors such as the severity of
heart disease.
Longer life-expectancy after a heart attack. A study published
in the American Journal of Cardiology found that men who had a
dog were six times more likely to be alive one year after a
heart attack than men without a dog. The presence of a pet
affected survival rate even more than having a spouse or
friends.
Reduced stress. A study by State University of New York at
Buffalo of stockbrokers who had dogs or cats in their offices
had smaller increases in blood pressure when they had to carry
out stressful tasks than those who did not have a pet present.
Increased exercise. One study showed that when people get a dog,
they increase their walking time fivefold--from an average of
one hour to five hours. Five hours of walking per week has a
benefit equal to giving up smoking.
So, the secret to a healthy heart may be trading in that hotdog
for a hot-looking Dachshund--or Great Dane or Boxer.
How to Meditate with Your Dog: An Introduction to Meditation for
Dog Lovers presents a non-dogmatic approach to meditation. To
fetch a free chapter from the book and the introduction from the
audiobook go to http://www.DogMeditation.com
About Author :
James Jacobson is not a dog whisperer or an animal behaviorist.
He's not an over-barking, highfalutin, woo-woo kind of guy. He's
a real person, who has meditated most of his life, the past
twelve years with his dog, Maui. For more than a decade, he has
taught classes in Washington, DC, Denver and Hawaii that
introduce "newbies" to the joy of meditation by leveraging the
love they already feel for their pets. Visit
http://www.dogmeditation.com. 
