Pets May Enhance Mental—and Physical—Well-Being

If you have a pet, you probably already know that animal companions can lift your mood. But did you know that they might even boost your physical health?

Consider these findings:

• Dog owners were less likely than dog non-owners to die within the first year after a heart attack.
• One study measured the negative physical effects of stress in women who owned dogs. They were tested alone, while accompanied by a friend, or while accompanied by their dog. Those with their dog at their side fared best.
• Among older adults, physical health was less likely to decline during the course of a year in pet owners than in pet non-owners. To evaluate physical health, researchers used a scale that measured the ability to perform activities of daily living.