Many people know and have experienced the positive effects of stress, such as keeping our minds and bodies alert and awake and motivating us at the right time. Though many have experienced the positive effects, it is that of the negative affects that cause the most problems. Without some way of releasing or managing the stress, it can progress into physical and mental illnesses.
Kathy Keeton, co-founder and president of OMNI, states, "stress helps produce high blood pressure (hypertension), which currently afflicts sixty million Americans. It's been implicated as a factor in the development of arteriosclerosis, heart disease, and some kinds of cancer" (43). Though it has been shown that stress promotes high blood pressure and other diseases, recent studies are being done on the affects of animals in reducing the stress in humans. On page 26 of "Diabetes in the News", Sandra Schwartz says that "pets provide friendship, help you improve your diabetes management, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, cut down on your visits to the doctor, and reduce the number of illnesses and accidents you experience". Though it does, however, seem too good to be true, in a way it is because people do need certain amounts of stress to survive. Without moderated amounts of stress, then people have a tendency to become un-motivated, and in turn become sick, and receive all of the negative affects of being excessively stressed.
With the de-stressing value shown of owning a pet, there are also stressing factors of owning one that must be weighed before committing. Most animals are difficult to care for because many of them are dependant on the owner and require that you walk them, feed them, and give them attention among other things. There is also the reality that the animal may need veterinary attention, and will one day pass on. But at the same time one must also look at the positive outlook of owning a pet.
