News Story BBC

dragonfly · News Story BBC

'Healthier hearts' for cat owners
Cat owners appear to have a much lower risk of dying from a heart attack than their feline-spurning counterparts, a study suggests.
Researchers looked at nearly 4,500 adults and found that cat ownership was related to a 40% lower risk of suffering a fatal heart attack.

The team speculated that having a cat may reduce stress and anxiety, and so protect against cardiovascular disease.

The findings of the study were unveiled at the International Stroke Conference.

The study, led by Professor Adnan Qureshi at the University of Minnesota, suggested that even those who no longer owned a cat benefited from these protective effects.

But specifically, some 3.4% of those who owned a cat during the duration of the study died from a heart attack, compared with 5.8% of those who did not.

The benefits held true even after the researchers adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol.

However the authors warned against impulsive cat purchases.

They said while cats may indeed have a calming effect, it was unclear whether the kind of people who opted for a cat in the first place may have a lower risk of heart attack.

This study did not examine the advantages of having a dog, although previous research has suggested this too may have health benefits above and beyond taking them for walks.

The Pet Health Council notes "there is an increasing amount of research proving that contact with animals can bring real physiological and psychological benefits including reducing stress, helping to prevent illness and allergies, lowering blood pressure, aiding recovery and boosting fitness levels.

"Research has also shown that pet owners make fewer annual visits to the doctors than non pet owners proving the saying, 'a pet all day keeps the doctor away'."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/7304393.stm

Published: 2008/03/19 10:49:

GMT

© BBC MMVIII
Me and Jo are kool then... we can eat chocolate coz we have cats lol!! (anyone like my logic)?

Nannyp

It's all to do with stroking. And I am sure, had the study been done with dogs owners, the findings would have been very similar...if not better, as with most dogs, the owner walks more.

The culture of the UK is that pets get stroked, petted and touched....more quite often than partners! Human contact is really importsnt, so if you are not getting enough humsn contact, pet contact can be the next best thing.

dragonfly

my cat only wants a stroke when hes hungry or cold....
rest of the time hes hanging off my poor ankles, claws n teeth.... bet they wouldnt use my cat in them studies...

However, I have always belived pets can give you what people cant, unconditional relationships...
a pet doesnt care what you wear, if your having a bad hair day. If your dinners gone wrong, or if your late home.
A dog/cat still love you if you gain a stone and lose your teeth overnight !

That kind of relationship must be good for well being in inself

MissMuppet

My cat is 10 times better at being nice to me than any bloke I've been with... hehe!

Nannyp

I agree, pets do give unconditional love AND, so can relationships and people....

Guest

I did hear that the stroking was meant to be beneficial and the purring relaxing.

Guest

Well, we have had cats the whole of our marriage...27 years ...not the same cats , well Jess was 21 when she died....but my hubby had two heart attacks last year....luckily he lived to tell the tale....
The strange thing is that Jaffa our newest cat and just over a year old will always curl up with hubby in the evening and most times lies curled up on hubbys left side....near his heart and tucked in to his arm....now, it may be for warmth but I like to think Jaffa is maybe keeping watch over him...

I always think of my cats as furry angels....