Consider a Pet for Stress Relief

You work long hours as a court reporter, don’t like to exercise, meditation isn’t your thing, and you feel stressed often.  What you may need is a pet.  According to the National Institutes of Health, married couples “who owned a pet were found to have lower heart rates and blood pressure, whether at rest or when undergoing stressful tests, than those without pets.”

The Centers for Disease Control reports that “Pets can decrease: blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels,” as well as “feelings of loneliness”; and “increase: opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities and socialization.”

The American Heart Association released a report on “Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Risk,” and noted the beneficial effects of particularly cat and dog ownership as including: “favorable lipid profiles, lower systemic blood pressure, improved autonomic tone, diminished sympathetic responses to stress, and improved survival after an acute coronary syndrome.”

Reporters with infants may want to consider adopting a cat or dog, as the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that children exposed to cats and dogs in their first year of life may have a reduced “risk of allergic sensitization to multiple allergens during childhood.” The Mayo Clinic notes that “the simple act of petting an animal can lower one’s blood pressure,” which has led to their including “furry” members to some of their care teams.

In fact, in February of 2012, when Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton adopted Lupo, their little black cocker spaniel, royal watchers everywhere were thrilled, as “dog owners worldwide enjoy longer lifespans on average.”  So if you seem stressed, and can’t decompress, consider adopting a pet, if not for them, for yourself.