A study on pet allergies, conducted in cooperation with Swedish and United States scientists, found that cat-keeping does not necessarily increase the risk of illness among children aged 7 to 11. The study team of the allergy expert Eva Lemark, following a follow-up observation of 2454 children between 7 and 8 years of age in Sweden, obtained this conclusion every four years through a skin allergy test.
Eva said: “The main reason for allergies is genetic, and if the patient suffers from allergies, often because of the family history of allergies. As a result, genetics is the direct cause of the child's allergies. The study also found that children who spend a long time with cats and dogs are less susceptible to allergies than children who have just started raising pets. Eighty per cent of children who are allergic to cats have never had a cat at home.
A report from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, also considers pets to be beneficial to human health. According to the report, many families are afraid to raise pets and fear asthma. In fact, when children come into contact with cats, instead of causing asthma, they can prevent infection. By observing the situation of 2,500 children from birth to the age of 78, they found that the more children were mixed up with pets, the lower the risk of contracting asthma and pollen allergies. Dr. MacNolax of the University of Warwick stated that at least four studies to date had shown that pets were not directly related to asthma.
Dr. MacNolax pointed out that the benefits of child pets are more than that. In addition to making children more caring, pets make them happier and less stressful. The pet children are more willing to move with the pets, exercise their bodies in the invisible and have stronger heart functions. Children raise pets and have a stronger immune system that can easily cope with minor diseases, with fewer sick leave and fewer delays in school. For traumatized children, pets become good friends, and being with pets helps them out of their psychological shadows.
Patients are not only child-friendly but also women-friendly. A survey has also shown that cat-raising works psychologically and biologically to assist women with breast cancer. So those who resist pets don't think of cats and dogs as enemies. They might help your health.