Heart Disease, Stress Among Health Issues Improved By Pets

There are tons of reasons everyone should have a furry friend in their life, but your pet also can play a role in keeping you healthy.

Owning pets can actually reduce your risk of heart disease, stress, and make you feel better emotionally and socially.

"We found that pet owners, on average, were better off than non-owners, especially when they have a higher-quality relationship with their pets," pet researcher Allen R. McConnell, told WebMD. "What [makes] a meaningful relationship varies from person to person."

The American Heart Association cites physical activity as a major risk factor associated with heart disease. More than 50 percent of Americans aren't getting enough exercise a week (AHA recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous exercise). To a non-pet owner, this may sound like a lot, but exercise is part of the daily routine of most animal owners.

That recommended dose of exercise can be reached by just a 20 minute walk or run with the dog a day - and that's not even including playtime.

Not only are pets great for you heart, petting them is a recognized stress reliever and they are social magnets.

"If I saw you walking down the street, I couldn't comfortably start talking to you if I didn't know you, but I could if you had a dog," Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, told WebMD. "It's an acceptable interaction that otherwise wouldn't be possible."