Decrease in mortality linked to cardiovascular diseases, reduction of stress and the risk of depression… The benefits of the presence of a pet in our lives are proven by science, assures doctor Jimmy Mohamed, health consultant of 'Europe 1.
Some take an animal to break the loneliness, others to please their children.
But whether it is a cat or a dog, other good reasons can push to take the plunge, according to doctor Jimmy Mohamed, health consultant of Europe 1: the benefits of animals on our physical health and mental are proven by science.
25 to 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
Several studies show, for example, that owning a dog is associated with a decrease in mortality from cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction.
This protective effect of the pet is all the more important in single people, who are more at risk of heart disease than people who live in a couple.
The numbers are impressive: having a dog would reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 25 to 30%.
This would also allow, according to a study involving nearly four million participants, to reduce by about 25% the risk of dying ... from all causes.
And therefore, quite simply, to live longer.
Here again, this protective effect is all the more marked in fragile patients who have already had a heart attack or a cerebrovascular accident, for example.
>> Find Jimmy Mohamed's column every morning at 8:37 am on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here
Another reason pets maintain good health is that their owners often get more physical activity.
Several studies show that people who own a dog walk more often than people who do not.
This effect is also valid in children, who walk more in their free time when they have a pet and are probably a little less behind their screens.
Fewer allergies in children with pets
But be careful: taking a pet is a real commitment, requiring pragmatic questions to be asked beforehand, such as the necessary budget or the type of care during the holidays, but also the possible allergies of certain members of the family. .
Note that asthma, hay fever or eczema are less common in children exposed to a pet during the first years of their life.
For those whose housing does not accommodate a dog, other pets, such as cats, for example, also have beneficial effects, including reducing stress, anxiety or even the risk of depression, because they are helping to break the social isolation worsened by the Covid-19 crisis.