We cannot attribute all health improvements to regular dog walking. Mc Nicholas said that a study showed that pet owners had healthier hearts, "and an important reason why patients' bodies can recover after a heart attack is the presence of pets by their side, and these pets don't just refer to dogs. This rule also applies to cats." Below are several aspects in which researchers have found that pets benefit our health.
Beneficial for Heart Health
The Baker Medical Research Institute in Australia found in a study involving 6,000 people that those who owned pets had lower blood pressure and cholesterol, thus reducing their risk of heart attacks compared to those who didn’t own pets. Another study conducted by the University of Minnesota revealed that cat owners had a 40% lower chance of suffering from a fatal heart attack than non-cat owners. This study tracked nearly 4,500 individuals and was published earlier this year. Adnan Qureshi, the neurology professor leading the research, stated that he believed cat owners experienced less stress and tension, hence lowering their risk of cardiovascular disease compared to non-pet owners.