Proven Health Benefits of Home Freshwater Aquariums

You may have heard that being a pet owner has emotional and psychological benefits. Pets offer companionship to people and make them feel accepted, secure, and happy. Pets very often provide a driving force in our everyday lives. They are something to take care of, to go home to, and to confide in. Fish are no exception.

Studies as far back as the 1980s have proven aquariums to be extremely beneficial in terms of health. Studies have been done comparing having an aquarium versus not having an aquarium, hypnosis versus aquariums, and fish-filled tanks versus decorative fishless tanks. The peaceful nature and attractiveness of an aquarium (fresh or saltwater), has been shown to significantly reduce stress and blood pressure levels. Even gazing at a decorative fishless tank has proven to assist in reducing stress and high blood pressure. Even greater improvement is found in individuals who have watched fish-filled aquariums. Various studies have shown that those who have spent a little time each day watching fish, have greatly reduced stress and blood pressure levels. The more attractive your tank is, the bigger the health benefits will be. Surprisingly, quiet videotapes or screensavers of fish swimming seem to work too.

There are yet more health benefits to having an aquarium in your home or office. Because aquariums reduce stress and lower blood pressure, heart attack victims that gaze at them tend to live longer. The stress reduction can also aid in curing insomnia. Sitting hyperactive children in front of an aquarium rather than a television set can calm them. On the other end of the age spectrum, Alzheimer’s patients tend to have an increased appetite and become less aggressive if they have fish to watch. A study was conducted comparing the effects of aquariums versus hypnosis on dental patients. Those who watched aquariums were proven to need less pain medication than the hypnotized or unaffected patients.

Owning an aquarium also has educational benefits. The chance to observe nature is right in your living room. You have the ability to watch the fish interact with plants, the environment, food, and each other in a replica of their natural habitat. Setting one up as a novice can be a learning experience in itself! At first, keeping a tank may actually induce stress-you have to do a lot of research before starting up, and once set up, you have to feed the fish and maintain the tank. Take your time and remember it is an enjoyable hobby. You will start to feel the psychological benefits when you step back after your aquarium is all set up and you feel an overwhelming sense of pride.

So there you have it. Given the many potential health benefits resulting from owning a freshwater aquarium, it makes good sense to get involved. Set one up for yourself OR if you have an elderly relative who is not well, you might consider setting up an aquarium for them. They will certainly thank you for it.

Source by Garry-Ian Macdonald

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