05.27.10

7 Ways Pets are Like Comedy

Posted in Humor~Health & Goals, Humor~Research, www.yourshiningexample.com at 6:16 pm by Dr. Trina Hess

Using, appreciating, expecting, and enjoying humor all benefit your health. One way to achieve humor is having a pet. What else provides so much free entertainment, companionship, and fun? Here from the Main Street Newsletter are 7 good reasons to have a pet—-and get all the health benefits that humor offers us!

1. Lower Blood Pressure. A study in Psychosomatic Medicine linked dog ownership to reduced anxiety, a slower heartbeat, more relaxed muscles and lower blood pressure, plus heightened ability to cope with stress.

2. Heal Faster. Even short-term exposure to dogs after heart failure significantly lowers stress hormones, boosts mood and improves cardiac function.

3. Pets Are Immunity Boosters. Pet owners are said to make fewer visits on average to their family physicians, according to a UCLA study—probably because they’re less stressed and engage in more physical activity than those without furry companions.

4. Pets Can Lower Cholesterol. Several studies have shown that pet owners have lower cholesterol than those in homes with no pets.

5. Pets Can Keep You in Shape. Dog owners log more steps per day than non-pet owners, and also tend to walk faster, harder and longer, and are less likely to be obese.

6. Pets Can Ward Off Elderly Depression. Studies show that pet owners are as much as four times less likely to get age-related depression than those living by themselves, likely because even simple acts like petting a dog release brain chemicals (serotonin, for example) that naturally combat the condition.

7. Pets Can Play the Role of Marriage Counselor. Studies show couples with dogs report less tension in their marriages (maybe it’s the “blame the dog” theory), as well as better conflict resolution with their partners.

7.5 Ready to get a dog? The one above and his 3 siblings just happen to be available! Here’s the story from one of my colleagues:

“They are a healthy weight – according to the vet they are the size of an average Lab at the same age. The puppies are a Lab/Border Collie/Beagle mix. I would GREATLY appreciate any help in finding good, responsible homes for them. They are almost fully weaned and will be ready to leave their mama and litter mates in 1 week.

“A few months ago I adopted a dog from the Venango County Humane Society. She had a very healthy litter 7 weeks ago and there are 4 of them that I still need to find responsible homes for.”

If you or anyone you know would be interested please contact me. And, if you’d like to see the rest of the litter, check (and join) my Facebook fan page!
Thanks for supporting humor in every way possible! Good dog!

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