Dogs and cats can be more than ‘man’s best friend’ or just someone to keep you company when you’re alone. For over 25 years, studies have shown that people who are pet owners have overall increased health.

Physical Health
Pediatrician James Gern, MD of the University of Wisconsin- Madison found that kids who grow up in a home with pets develop a stronger immune system, especially when it comes to fighting off allergies and asthma.

According to Animal Planet, researchers at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) say that pet owners have decreased blood pressure and cholesterol. Both of which minimize the risk of a fatal heart attack. Simply petting a cat lowers blood pressure and in 4,500 people, owning a cat lowers heart attack risk by over 40 percent, according to care2.com.

Pets require exercise as well. Walking or running with pets can keep the owner and the pet active and make weight a lot more manageable.

Mental Health
Owning pets can be very positive for the elderly and people with serious illnesses. WebMD states that Alzheimer’s patients who own pets have fewer outbursts and less anxiety. Having a pet, cats or dogs in particular, require attention, care, and love. Most of all, a pet-owner relationship results in companionship. Pets can also be a sense of stability for people with emotional issues.

Another care2.com study showed that 55 percent of people surveyed felt relaxed after spending time with their pet and 44 percent were less worried about specific problems including job security and finances. One in six women said “they confided their deepest thoughts in only their dog,” and 25 percent of women said their dog was their best friend.

Having a pet reduces stress and anxiety and therefore protecting against cardiovascular disease. There have been reports of doctors prescribing “pet prescriptions” to patients suffering from serious illnesses like cancer. Sick people are motivated by pets to take better care of themselves knowing they have a responsibility to another being.

In addition to generally owning a pet, adopting an animal can benefit both the owner and the pet. Saving an animal by adoption will make the owner feel good by helping make a difference for the pet and the pet will benefit the owner by improving their mental and physical health.

The twenty-nine (29) members of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Fellowship graduates were awarded a Master’s Degree in Medical Sciences with a Concentration in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine from the University of South Florida School of Biomedical Sciences College of Medicine this month.
Participants of this particular Master’s program go through a rigorous course of study to complete the degree. Requirements include:

• 32 total credit hours
• 11 courses
  -Modules I-VIII with the A4M before applying to USF
  -Courses 1-8 with three case histories submitted
  -Course 9 and Course 10 independent studies
  -An ethics course as course 11
• 50 hours of A4M web casts
• Two online exams

  The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine would like to congratulate the graduates listing below for completing this program and earning their Master’s degrees in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine.

Arwa Al Shaer PhD, MD, FAARFM
Thomas Barnard MD, FAARFM
Elbridge Bills MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Elizabeth Boyle DO, FAARFM, ABAARM
Carrie Lynn Carda MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Melissa Dean MD, FAARFM
Kelly Engelman NP, FAARFM, ABAAHP
Craige Golding MD, FAARFM
Manjit Gosal MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Sabina Grochowski MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Bruce Hoffman MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Apostolos Lekkos DO, FAARFM, ABAARM
Janelle Love MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Diona Marina MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Laurence McClish MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Ajith Nair MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Lakshmi Prasad MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Jeanette Queen NP, FAARFM, ABAAHP, MS
Nancy Raymond RD, MS, FAARFM
Sana Remillard NP, FAARFM, ABAAHP
Michael Schoeleber MD, FAARFM
Teresa Sievers MD, FAARM, ABAARM
Roger Simpson MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
Pamela Smith MD, ABAARM
Peggy Watson MD FAARFM
Daniel Watts MD, FAARFM
John Whitcomb MD, FAARFM, ABAARM
TseHwa Yao MPAS, MS, FAARFM, ABAAHP
Aveewan Yun DO, FAARFM
Mark Houston MD, FAARM
Oleg Georgiev MD, FAARFM, ABAARM

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) offers exclusive membership to all medical professionals where they gain access to over two-decades of established medical expertise.  We are also dedicated to educating physician and scientists and are proud to be in our 21st year of providing first-class continuing education conferences on anti-aging issues, regenerative and functional medicine.  To further demonstrate our commitment to the future of medicine, the shared responsibility for patient outcomes and transforming health education through innovation, we offer Board Certifications and Fellowship Training Programs in various disciplines ranging from anti-aging, regenerative and functional medicine to such disciplines as aesthetic medicine, skin cancer and stem cell therapy, in order to lead the industry by establishing best practice standards in these areas.

Chris Meletis, ND is a frequent guest presenter at events hosted by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Very recently, Dr. Meletis contributed to WorldHealth.net’s blog forum discussing the latest Fibromyalgia research.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been found to alleviate some symptoms and pain in patients with Fibromyalgia in a study that compared the effects of the pill to those of a placebo. In reviewing the study, Meletis analyzed, “The investigators determined that CoQ10 supplementation resulted in a reduction in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score compared to placebo, with particular reduction in pain and fatigue and morning tiredness subscales. The researchers also found a reduction in tender points and recovery of inflammation, antioxidant enzymes, mitochondrial biogenesis and AMPK gene expression levels.

Meletis recently presented in Las Vegas at an A4M conference, as well as in Orlando at A4M’s 21^st Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. In Orlando, his lecture included “Unraveling the Multiple Clinical Challenges Between Metabolic Dysfunction and GI Health.” His recap on the Las Vegas conference can be seen here:
http://www.drmeletis.com/news/dr-meletis-completes-lecture-series-in-las-vegas-at-the-world-health-conference-for-the-a4m

Meletis is committed to helping those in less fortunate financial circumstances. He has opened 16 health clinics helping those who are poor and uninsured.

For more information on past and future A4M Educational Conferences, please visit http://www.a4m.com/anti-aging-conferences.html