New Study: Owning a Dog Can Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease
Glenn N. Levine, M.D., a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said, ““Pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease,” after reviewing several studies performed on the matter.
Research has shown that:
- Dog ownership is probably associated with a reduction in heart disease risk factors and increased survival among patients. But the studies aren’t definitive and do not necessarily prove that owning a pet directly causes a reduction in heart disease risk. “It may be simply that healthier people are the ones that have pets, not that having a pet actually leads to or causes reduction in cardiovascular risk,” Levine said.
- Dog ownership in particular may help reduce cardiovascular risk. People with dogs may engage in more physical activity because they walk them. In a study of more than 5,200 adults, dog owners engaged in more walking and physical activity than non-dog owners, and were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended level of physical activity.
- Owning pets may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and a lower incidence of obesity.
- Pets can have a positive effect on the body’s reactions to stress.
For more information about this statement or to learn about heart disease and risk factors, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.
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