If you have a high-stress job, you may suffer from high blood pressure. Before you quit your job, consider adopting a feline friend. Cats not only help lower blood pressure, but can make you all-around healthier and happier.
Lowering Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often a result of living a high-stress life. Maybe you have a high-profile job or work long hours. Since cats are pretty independent, you can still have time to take care of a furry friend, and it'll help your health. A recent study performed by psychologist Karen Allen at the University of New York at Buffalo found that cat owners have reduced blood pressure spikes in response to stress. Rises in their blood pressure due to stressful situations were half as high as the group in the study that didn't own pets. A cat will love you unconditionally and is a friend to talk to when you've had a bad day. If you own a cat, you'll always have someone on your side.
A Healing Purr
Having a warm feline sitting in your lap, purring away happily, has a calming effect. However, Kitty's purr has other health benefits as well. Kitty purrs between 25 and 50 Hz. This frequency is not only stress-relieving, but can promote bone density and fracture healing. The low frequency can also help relieve pain and achy muscles. Having a purring buddy can help ease the aches and pains associated with stress.
Improves Morale
Owning a cat can make you a happier person. It can promote confidence because you're a capable pet parent. Knowing your Kitty is healthy and happy because you took care of him is big confidence booster. Owning a kitty also encourages you to take better care of yourself. You want to be there for your cat, and keeping yourself healthier means you'll spend more time with Kitty. Cats also help keep us compassionate. A dog will give you attention no matter what you do to him. However, a cat may avoid you if you're mean to him and yell at him. This helps keep you calm and friendly, so your feline pal will stick around.
Healthy Heart
Since Kitty can help reduce blood pressure and improve morale, he can reduce your risk of heart attack as well. In a study of more than 4,000 people, about half were currently or had been cat owners. The half who owned cats were 30 percent less likely to die of heart attack. Since stress and anxiety are contributors to heart disease, it's thought that the less-stressed cat owners were less prone to heart trouble. It could be that folks who love felines are just calmer in general and that's why they are less likely to have a heart attack. It takes a special kind of person to take up the task of being a pet parent. It could be that the relaxing experience of cuddling your lovable lap cat keeps your ticker healthy.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.