Table 3.
Beneficial effects of pet ownership on cardiovascular risk. SBP, systolic blood pressure; MAP, mean arterial pressure; TG, triglycerides. Based on [31]
| Cardiovascular risk factor | Beneficial effect of pet ownership | Conflicting data |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary lifestyle | Increases regular exercise, frequency of walking, especially for leisure | Yes |
| Arterial hypertension | Lower SBP, pulse pressure, MAP | Yes |
| Stress | Lower BP response to mental stress | Yes |
| Hyperlipidemia | Lower plasma TG and cholesterol | Yes |
| Post myocardial infarction arrhythmias or re-infarction | Improved survival in the year following myocardial infarction | Yes |
| Depression | Fewer physician visits, less depression | Yes |