The Ayatollah Buggeri Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 For those who ain't got religion... BBC story 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'." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheer Heart Attack Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I love my little cat. She's the greatest. Only had her since last summer but couldn't imagine her not being there now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bart of Darkness Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I think pets in general (esp. cats and dogs) are supposed to be quite good for you health-wise. (Says non-pet owning Bart ) I think I wouldn't mind a dog but right now I couldn't give it the attention it deserved, which wouldn't be fair to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosh Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I find stroking a pussy increases my heart rate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bart of Darkness Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 What about Schrodinger's cat? It didn't do him any good- he's dead. For one surreal moment I read Schrodinger as Schroder. As far as I know he never had a cat though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 There has been research on pilot schemes introducing pet dogs/cats into prisons. Preliminary findings indicate a drop in violence and aggression among inmates. Seems to tie in with stress reduction ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 What about Schrodinger's cat? It didn't do him any good- he's dead.(Or is he?) Not sure about the cat either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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