Health Benefits of Aquarium Fish
Observing the fish for 10 minutes a day is good for the eyes
The slow, rhythmic motions and the swaying of the live coral is relaxing
If you have a stressful life, high blood pressure, insomnia, keeping an aquarium may be good therapy for you
Watching fish has been shown to calm children who suffer from hyperactivity disorder
Watching fishes helps one to relax and keep the mind free. It is especially helpful for people working long hours on the computer.
Watching a Therapeutic Aquarium helps patients with Alzheimer's disease, Cancer and other terminal illness
Aquarium Therapy
Aquarium therapy is term used to describe possible beneficial effects on health an aquarium may provide. See more in the link below.
Aquarium Effect on Alzheimer’s
Studies have shown that seniors who have Alzheimer’s experience a variety of health benefits from watching an aquarium. Alzheimer patients ate more, and required fewer supplements after an aquarium was placed in the dining room. They also exhibited less physically aggressive behaviors.
https://news.uns.purdue.edu/html4ever/1999/990628.Edwards.fish.html
Studies and Stats on The Benefits of Aquariums
Do you have a stressful life, high blood pressure, insomnia? Keeping an aquarium may be good therapy for you. Studies going back as far as the late 80’s have shown that gazing at aquarium fish reduces stress and subsequently lowers blood pressure.
Fish Make a Difference
Researchers have compared the effects of hypnosis vs. an aquarium, fishless vs. fish filled aquariums, and no aquarium vs. having an aquarium. In all cases, having some sort of aquarium reduced blood pressure. Interestingly enough, greater reduction in blood pressure occurred when there were fish in the tank, vs pleasingly decorated, but fishless, tanks. Even watching a video tape of fish has been proven to have therapeutic effects.
Multitude of Benefits
Seniors who were provided with an aquarium filled with fish had significant blood pressure reduction. Watching fish has been shown to calm children who suffer from hyperactivity disorder. Dental patients who were subjected to hypnosis vs. an aquarium experienced the same or greater benefit from the aquarium. Other studies have shown that dental patients required less pain medication after having watched fish in the office. It's little wonder that physician offices, dental clinics, and even waiting rooms for counselors have traditionally kept an aquarium in the waiting room.
By: Shirlie Sharpe
https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/stress-reduction-tropical-fish-and-aquariums/
Aquarium Therapy Proven Stress Reliever & Human Health
In addition to the joy, entertainment, and companionship many animals provide, it has been known for years, that animals can provide many health benefits to humans. Studies have shown that animals can increase longevity after heart attacks, lower cholesterol, and even predict seizures in people. Similarly, studies have found that watching fish in aquariums has many therapeutic effects, including: a notable and beneficial decrease in blood pressure, pulse rate, and muscle tension. In a study of patients awaiting dental surgery, it was found that aquarium watching was as effective as hypnosis, in reducing anxiety.
Purdue University researchers conducted an extensive study, which found that exposing Alzheimer's patients to tanks of brightly colored fish, may curtail disruptive behaviors and improve eating habits. Generally, it is difficult to keep these patients calm, attentive, or awake long enough for them to eat adequately, resulting in a need for costly nutritional supplements and medications. However, when aquariums were placed in the dining room of Alzheimer's facilities, it appeared that the stimulating combination of color, sound, and the varying, gliding movement of the fish held their attention for a relatively long time. They were more relaxed, attentive, and alert, and ate up to 21% more. As a result of eating more, the patients required less nutritional supplementation. There was also a noticeable decrease in physically aggressive behaviors among the patients. For some, even short-term memory may have been stimulated.
These are just a few examples, showing that in addition to both the educational and aesthetic benefits of aquariums, people who care for and watch fish, can reap health benefits as well.
By: David N Janet
http://www.nrlc-group.net/proceduresAndFacilities/aquariumTherapy.php
Tank Time Links:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/scientists-study-the-calming-effect-of-watching-fish
http://www.reeftectonics.com/PDF/Elderly&Aquariums.pdf
http://www.seacave.com/poi/fish.php
http://www.nabeepchen.com/health-benefits-of-maintaining-aquarium-its-therapeutic-effects/
http://www.ocreef.com/aquarium_therapy
https://alzheimersspeaks.wordpress.com/tag/aquarium-therapy/
http://www.marinescene.com/resources/aquarium-fish-therapy-herndon-va.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_therapy
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