Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 26, 2008 Adar2 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:09 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A girl playing with her dog in Binyamina. (Nitzan Shorer) Last update - 02:06 26/03/2008 Israeli study provides first proof that raising dogs helps kids' health By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Dogs  High blood pressure is considered one of the leading causes of death and illness in the western world. It can lead to serious heart disease and, in extreme cases, to fatal strokes. A new study conducted by Dr Michel Balaish, the epidemiologist of the Agriculture Ministry's veterinary services, has revealed that man's best friend could perhaps be off assistance also in this case. The study revealed that the blood pressure of children in whose home a dog can be found is lower than that of children who do not come into contact with dogs. The study was conducted in cooperation with the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology, the children's ward at the Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The researchers distributed questionnaires to the parents of 228 children in first to third grades at two elementary schools in Shoham. Advertisement In the first stage, the parents were asked whether the child has a dog at home and if so, what kind of relationship the child had developed with the animal. At the same time, the parents were asked about the child's medical history and hereditary diseases in the family. The children themselves underwent tests of weight and height. In the second stage, the pupils' blood pressure was measured. "Each child went twice for a blood pressure reading in a relaxed manner, that is, he sat relaxing for five minutes and refrained from any kind of activity," said Balaish. "After that, we did repeated tests of the same children in an atmosphere that resembled moderate pressure - they were asked to read aloud a number during the test." After a comparison of the test results, the researchers concluded that the blood pressure of those children who had a relationship with a dog was lower than those who had no dog. According to Balaish, there have been numerous studies about the connection between raising dogs and the health of adults, but this is the first time that the connection between blood pressure in children and raising a dog was tested in a study. "The professional literature states that one third of the children who suffer from high blood pressure will suffer from this problem when they are adults," he said. "This is a characteristic of importance for one's health and one which has implications also for the children's well being in the future." Balaish is aware that among the vast majority of children aged six to nine, cases of high blood pressure are rare. "Only a few children who were examined in the framework of the study were found to be suffering from unreasonable blood pressure and we brought this to the attention of the parents. But under all circumstances, children in whose home a dog is raised and who take care of it, feed it and play with it - have lower blood pressure than those who do not have a dog." The reasons for this, Balaish said, "can be attributed, among other things, to the fact that a child who takes care of a dog does more physical activity because he goes on walks with the dog and plays with it." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Love story Israel permits gay Palestinian to join his lover in Tel Aviv. Interfaith get-together Saudi King plans first interfaith conference to include Jews.   1.   Raising Dogs benefits the whole family 02:13  |  * BEN JABO 26/03/08   2.   Does it work with inanimate dogs? 05:51  |  Ulf 26/03/08   3.   This is old news .... 08:08  |  JW 26/03/08   4.   Maybe the causation is in reverse 10:37  |  Tamarah 26/03/08   5.   All you need is love 11:00  |  Clickfool 26/03/08   6.   why not in jerusalem 11:35  |  josh 26/03/08   7.   ANIMALS CAN HELP ELIMINATE ALLERGIES 13:57  |  petra 26/03/08   8.   TAMARAH HERE`S A TRUE STORY FOR YOU 14:04  |  petra 26/03/08   9.   # 5 CLICKERS ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE. 14:05  |  petra 26/03/08

Today Online Blair: Middle East peace process a 'race against time' Responses: 93 Mubarak: Gaza tension brings Iran threat closer Responses: 34 PA fails in fight against terror, U.S. officials determine Responses: 36 Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs Responses: 39 Top Fatah official: Housing Min. inviting Palestinians to start a fresh Intifada Responses: 22 Zvi Bar'el: Keeping Iran from 'members-only' Arab club Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain Obama advisor blasts 'NY, Miami' for failed peace process Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats Is bar mitzvah more important than Christmas tree? More Headlines 12:43 Livni: IDF operations in Gaza help move peace talks forward 12:27 Israeli lightly hurt by Palestinian gunfire on Negev kibbutz 14:06 Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs 11:50 Officials: Israel to supply PA forces with security equipment 13:49 Fatah demands Hamas cede Gaza before reconciliation talks 12:08 U.S. road map monitors: PA failing in fight against terror 13:22 B'nai Brith awards journalism prizes to Haaretz.com's Rosner, education writer Kashti 12:30 Finance Ministry devising plan to lure billionaire Jews to Israel 13:07 Iraqi PM gives Basra gunmen three-day ultimatum to surrender 07:11 Mubarak: Gaza tension brings Iran threat closer 12:29 Haifa U. students slam decision to hold tests during Holocaust Day siren 03:30 ANALYSIS: Keeping Iran away from 'members-only' Arab club 09:26 Traditional Hebrew calligraphy swirls into cutting-edge font 08:31 Rubinstein Piano Competition / The heat that shuffled the deck Previous Editions Select Day 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar

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