Doctor prescribes a dose of nature or having a dog

A visit to the zoo, walk in the country or time with a pet might help you get or stay well.

April 25, 2001

By BOB CONDOR Chicago Tribune

More Americans visit zoos each year than all professional sporting events combined. What that says about human nature and nature is significant to Dr. Howard Frumkin.

He recently published a paper in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that argues for a new approach to environmental health and medicine. Rather than investigate only "the hazardous effects of toxic chemicals, radiation and biological and physical agents," Frumkin said that experiencing nature - from walks in the forest to a day at the zoo - should be part of research and treatment.

"Perhaps we will advise patients to take a few days in the country, spend time gardening or adopt a pet if clinical evidence offers support for such measures," he said.

There is a wide body of evidence linking pets to human health. The findings about pet ownership surprise even Frumkin.

"Dog ownership is right up there with an aspirin a day for protecting heart health," Frumkin said.

One study showed that men and women who own dogs are less at risk for high blood pressure or excess cholesterol. Another study reported that such people who suffered first heart attacks were six times more likely to be alive a year later than patients without dogs. What's more, a survey of nearly 24,000 Medicare enrollees revealed that dog owners made fewer doctor visits than nonowners.

One landmark study of gallbladder-surgery patients over 10 years showed that individuals with rooms looking out to a stand of trees stayed one day fewer, on average, than patients whose windows faced a brown brick wall.

Nonetheless, Frumkin acknowledged that convincing medical colleagues of nature's healing powers is not easy.

"Doctors and patients are used to high-tech solutions," Frumkin explained. Doctors in his own discipline of environmental health are willing to work with engineers to build equipment to test toxic exposure or consult chemists to measure it, he said. Or they will commission software designers to apply geographic information systems to health data. But that's not enough. According to Frumkin, it's time to consult with landscape architects, interior designers, veterinarians and urban planners to help create a total picture of health.

"It's a matter of transforming travel-agent talk into medical talk," Frumkin said. "Doctors and patients will feel more confident if we have the appropriate research about health and nature."

Frumkin has a particular interest in children's health, not surprising given that he is director of the pediatric environmental health unit at Emory University's School of Public Health. If it is true that contact with nature is good for health, he said, it would be even more so for the developing bodies and emotional well-being of kids.

In any case, Frumkin added, common sense can mingle with hard science.

"At first I thought it is necessary to separate out any aesthetic factor," he said, such as the inspiration Chicagoans can draw from Lake Michigan on a sunny, clear day. "But it occurs to me that whatever makes you feel good about nature may simply be good for you."

See you at the zoo. =)

-- (cin@cin.cin), April 27, 2001

Answers

No, you won't see me at the zoo. Kinda surprised you'd go in for that sort of thing, cin.

I haven't been to a zoo since I was very young. The sight of animals removed from their natural habitats & put on display for our enjoyment (?) saddened me greatly.

There's an original Twilight Zone episode where a human family became the ones placed on display by off-worlders. Imprisoned in a house that served as a cage. Got a chuckle out of that scenario.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), April 27, 2001.

Zoos have come a long way, Rich. The days of cold, hard concrete are gone and many zoos are spending millions upon millions to revamp and provide as natural a setting as possible for their critters. In fact, in some cases they're doing such a good job that zoo visitors are complaining that they can't see the animals in the huge expanse of their new, lush enclosures that closely resemble their homeland habitat.

Hey, if I was a lion and I had my choice of lolling around under a tree with a coupla' cutie lionesses and the luxury of room service or scrambling around on the plains, working my ass off for a good meal, I'd opt for the zoo in a quick minute.

-- 1 (2@3.com), April 27, 2001.

Rich, I very much understand what you are saying. I once went to this small zoo in FL, where the animals were in tiny cages and looked as if they were either ill, or doped up to be kept calm. Maybe both. I was horrified. And needless to say, I never went back for another visit.

-- (cin@cin.cin), April 27, 2001.

That's good news, 1. It's been 30 years. I should have figured conditions would change.

Sorry to rain on your thread, cin. It's Friday late and my brain is toast.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), April 27, 2001.

Cool, I'd of like to seen that episode of Twilight Zone Rich.

Our zoo here has went down the tubes. Reminds me of the time me and hubby grabbed the boys, drove from Great Lakes Ill to Milwaukee in 90 degree weather w/no air in the car. FINALLY arrived at the FAMOUS zoo and it was soooo hot we walked back out and went home:-(

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), April 27, 2001.

Did you know that it is the female lions who do the hunting for the pride? The males primarily breed. LOL

-- (cin@cin.cin), April 27, 2001.

Kinda' like real life for us humans, eh? LOL

-- Too (MuchTestosterone@Planet.com), April 27, 2001.

Well, hmmph!!! I think they outta give the males some viagra then.

Yeah, then they can hunt for us w/a woody ;-)

Too early this am I'm being naughty.

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), April 28, 2001.

Zoos have indeed come a long way from the days of lions pacing back and forth in a small cage. Zoos are also the last refuge from humanity for many species, and many zoos are working to save rare animals that might otherwise perish forever.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), April 28, 2001.

The subject line interested me more than the article did. I like animals and nature, but zoos just don't cut it for me. Even a very nice zoo always puts a barrier between the visitor and the "exhibits". I much prefer my dose of nature to come without fences. Maybe that's why, in the city, I really like looking at the sky: no barriers in that direction.

Time to go out and work in the garden. The weeds are growing like weeds out there.

-- Miserable SOB (misery@misery.net), April 28, 2001.