Pets for your health

Having meaningful relationships with animals can positively impact human health. Here are potential benefits of walking your dog and snuggling with your cat:

• Heart health: Studies show that heart attack survivors and people with abnormal heartbeats live longer if they own pets.

• Stress reduction: Petting your dog or cat relaxes both of you by lowering blood pressure and stress hormones.

• Healthier babies: Children raised around pets may be less inclined to develop allergies and asthma, but they have to be exposed before 6 months old.

• Better mood: People with pets are happier, more trusting, less lonely and visit the doctor for minor problems less often.

Source: WebMD.com