Most of us already know what it feels like. You sit down, a dog rests its head in your lap, and something in you just settles. Turns out, that feeling shows up in your numbers, too.
A clinical study published in the journal Home Health Care Management & Practice looked at exactly this. Researchers examined 28 older adults living in the community. They wanted to know what happened to blood pressure and heart rate after a pet therapy visit compared to a visit from a volunteer without an animal.
The answer was clear. Pet therapy significantly decreased both blood pressure and heart rate.
The study used what researchers call a crossover design. That means participants experienced both types of visits, so scientists could compare the results within the same group of people. It is a reliable way to measure real differences.
Beyond heart rate and blood pressure, researchers also looked at stress, attitudes toward pets, social support, and overall health status. All of those factors were part of the picture.
The researchers concluded that community health nurses should consider developing and putting pet therapy programs into place in the communities they serve.
For those of us who already share our lives with an animal, this will come as no surprise. And for anyone who does not have a pet at home, it is worth knowing that even a regular visit from a therapy animal may do your heart some real good.
The connection between people and animals runs deep. Science is just starting to catch up with what our hearts have known all along.
