HHS HealthBeat (March 21, 2008)

This pet may protect

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Even a black cat can bring some good fortune.

While cats may not have nine lives, a study found owning a cat decreases the risk of its owner dying of cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Adnan Qureshi and colleagues from the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center, University of Minnesota presented their study at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2008.

Qureshi found cat owners have a lower risk of dying from heart attacks than do people who don't own cats. The benefits were only for cats, so they didn't apply to dogs.

Does this mean man may have a new best friend?

"People who actually did not own cats had a 40 percent greater likelihood of dying from heart attacks and cardiac disease in general." (8 seconds)

The study was based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March, 20 2008