Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

WOMAN'S HEALTH with Sharon Campbell, CRNP

Rx for Good Health: Get Two Dogs
and Call Me in the Morning!

Pets really are good for your health! Chances are you will live longer and feel better if you own a pet.

Medical studies on the bond formed between people and pets reveal that pet owners are more likely to have decreased stress levels, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. They also experience fewer heart attacks than people who don’t have pets. Researchers have found that the presence of an animal has a beneficial effect on heart function.

A study of women undergoing stress tests showed that the presence of a dog had a greater effect on decreasing blood pressure than the presence of friends.

Many hospitals, rehab centers and retirement homes have animal therapy. Volunteer animals come to visit or a pet may be kept at the facility. Seniors with pets are much less lonely that non-pet owners.

There are also psychological benefits of having pets. They are sympathetic, supportive, and non-judgmental listeners. They provide us with a distraction from our worries, encourage social interaction and provide a soothing presence.

Animal experts believe one reason pets have a therapeutic effect on people is that they provide a sense of comfort. Pets can help their owners overcome depression through their companionship and unconditional love. They seem to help us relax and enjoy life.

According to a Chinese proverb, dogs have so many friends because they wag their tails instead of their tongues!

The responsibility of taking care of a pet can help us get our minds off our problems and ourselves.

Children exposed to pets during their first year of life often have lower frequency of some allergies and asthma. Positive self esteem in children is enhanced if the child owns a pet.

A pet is not a placebo; it is more powerful than any medicine that money can buy! A pet, whether it is a dog, cat, fish, bird, hamster, gerbil or an iguana, is good for your health! Get one and have some fun!

Sharon Campbell is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) who owns A New Creation Women’s Clinic. Well versed in Women’s Health, her emphasis is on reproductive and gynecological health. Sharon can be reached at 293-1117.