Dogs & Cats - Good For Heart Health

A study in the American Journal of Cardiology reports that people with pets had better heart rate variability than those without. The study of 200 Japanese people with a chronic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure of high cholesterol, found that pet owners in the cohort  had hearts that responded better to the body's changing requirements, such as beating faster during stressful situations. Reduced heart rate variability has been linked to a higher risk of dying from heart disease.

While the study was very preliminary, Erika Friedmann, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said that it's a step forward from what is already known about the connection between pet ownership and a person's heart health.

Hooray for heart healthy pets!