Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

I was very blessed to grow up in an environment where our family always had a dog.

We also had a cat that came to us as a tiny kitten, and was with us for about 17 years. Be aware that cats tend to live longer than dogs. The average predicted life expectancy of a cat is about 15 years, and the average predicted life expectancy of a dog is about 12 years.

The source for much of this information about the health benefits of our pets is the United States National Institutes of Health, primarily referred to as the NIH.

The NIH offers a wealth of valuable information on so many very informative health topics. I was also pleased to learn that the NIH is funding multiple studies to learn how our relationships with our pets can improve our health.

Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. The unconditional love of a pet can do more than just keep us company.

Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with their emotional and social skills. Fortunately, an estimated 68 percent of U.S. households have a pet, the majority of which are dogs and cats.

Over the past 10 years, NIH scientists have been looking into what may be the potential physical and mental health benefits from various animals, including dogs and cats. We will now take a look at some of the NIH findings regarding the possible health benefits of dogs and cats.

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower our blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase pleasant feelings of social support, and improve our personal mood.

For example, if a person has a goal to increase physical activity, they will likely benefit from owning a dog. When a person walks their dog several times a day, they will increase their physical activity, and you both will enjoy the time together and will have health benefits from these walks.

If one’s goal is to reduce stress, taking the dog for a walk will often result in a feeling of calmness and stress relief. Of course, therapy dogs are especially good at this. Dogs are also sometimes brought into hospitals or nursing homes to help reduce a patient’s stress and anxiety and it really does help these patients.

Owning a cat can also bring unconditional love and companionship into one’s life. Having a pet cat has also been shown to relieve stress and improve one’s overall health. Research has shown that having a pet cat can offer a truly rewarding relationship. It has been shown that a pet cat can help calm our nervous system and also provide an immediate outlet for fun and play. Although cats are usually quite independent animals who don’t seem to mind being alone, they can also be very affectionate with their owners and with people they have learned to trust.

Most cats love to curl up on your lap at the end of a long day while you watch television or read a book. The simplicity of this act can cause an automatic release of all the right kinds of chemicals to your brain. Many cat owners will tell you just how much their furry friend helps them to relax and unwind. Cats often make great pets whether you live in a big house or in a small apartment, and they also can provide all the fun and play of larger animal companions.

Both dogs and cats do certainly help many people as they offer us a source of comfort and support. Fortunately, researchers are continuing to explore the many health effects of having dogs or cats as pets. I must say that I remain impressed that our United States NIH is doing this dog and cat research that confirms what so many of us have believed all along.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books.Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.