Dogs Can Help Reduce Asthma, Among MANY Other Things

From Sweden, research suggests that dogs shield children, particularly from asthma. The findings were based on a sample size of one million Swedish children which showed that toddlers growing up "with a pooch in home" before they turn one-year-old have a "13-percent lower risk" of developing said condition by the time they turn six.

According to one of the study's author, Assistant Professor Tove Fall, since they had access to such an extensive detailed data set, they "could account for confounding factors."

In a report from The New Daily, an Australian expert said many prior studies "suffer from lack of funding and are thus 'fragmented' and 'messy.'"

The expert added that probably, many take their love of dogs so much for granted that they do not see "the obvious."

Benefits Attributed to Dogs

People's most loved canine may serve as a motivator for them to exercise, improve their mental condition, strengthen bonds with others, and lower the risk of heart ailment.

The scientific research, limited as it is, proposes these benefits, and some experts prove them. Furthermore, reports on this new finding, say, try asking one happy owner, and he is likely to claim such benefits and many more.

However, what appears the most powerful benefit of all, and probably the source of other advantages, is friendship. According to Dr. Susan Hazel, an animal researcher at the University of Adelaide, a pet's social support "is very likely" to contribute to the overall health of its owner.

The researcher also said, when individuals looked general at human health, one of the shielding factors is social support, "and that includes pets."

Pets as Source of Social Support

Dr. Hazel also said that pets could be an extremely valuable "source of social support." She added that receiving unconditional love from an animal is something people may not get from other aspects of their lives.

Noting the lack of quality studies, a team of Sydney University experts is embarked on a research to address this.

Emmanuel Stamatakis, the team's head and an associate professor at the Charles Perkins Centre, agrees with the power social links have. He said such connections have more of an effect on the health of humans than high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking, among others.

Stamatakis' then newly-appointed team expresses interest in proving absolutely "whether or not dogs can keep us social," as well as other physical, mental, and behavioral impacts of owning a dog on humans.

Man's Best Friend

Commenting on their research, the professor explained, he and his team are interested in the dogs' role as a social catalyst for human beings. Meaning, these pets can be the connection that "brings humans closer."

He also said he'd prefer "not to pre-empt" what they could discover as it is important, and if they take an angle, "It would be biased."

Agreeing with the other experts, Dr. Andrew O'Shea, Sydney Animal Behavior Services resident, said that in general, the benefits of dog ownership and pets in general "do outweigh the negatives."

Whether it is protection from asthma, lower blood pressure, or any other reason, one thing appears possible-dogs are an effective medicine.

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