COLUMBIA, Mo., Sep 29, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Pets lower hypertension, spur
exercise and improve psychological health, and if this appeared in pill form it
would be called a wonder drug, a U.S. expert says.
"Research in this field is providing new evidence on the positive impact pets
have in our lives," Rebecca Johnson, an associate professor in the University of
Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, the College of Veterinary Medicine and
director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, says in a
statement.
Johnson says the International Society for Anthrozoology and Human-Animal
Interaction Conference in Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 20-25 will include conference
discussions on ways that human-animal interaction benefits humans and animals.
"Pets are of great importance to people, especially during hard economic times,"
Johnson says. "Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of
answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity."
ReCHAI sponsored the Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors program
that matched older adults with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults
walked with humans. For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an
outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week.
"The older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by
28 percent," Johnson says. "They had more confidence walking on the trail, and
they increased their speed. Those who walked with humans had a 4 percent
increase in their walking capabilities."
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International