Owning a dog can give you a new lease on life.
A 2019 study out of Sweden linked dog ownership to increased physical activity and social support and a lower risk of premature death after a heart attack or stroke.
Although other research has cast doubt on the direct effect of pets on mortality, the American Heart Association has identified four key ways that being a puppy parent can be good for your heart.
Be more active
A British study found that dog owners are approximately four times more likely to meet the UK and US recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week than non-dog owners .
Dog owners tended to do more recreational walking, the researchers found, and dog walking did not replace more intense forms of exercise.
A depressed, diabetic divorcee said he lost 150 pounds after adopting an overweight, middle-aged rescue dog. Even his dog Peety lost 25 pounds.
Reduce the risk of chronic diseases
Regular exercise helps with weight management and blood sugar control, significantly reducing the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The Mayo Clinic reports that walking 30 minutes a day reduces the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, colon and breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes, and recommends starting a 12-week walking schedule with your dog.
It’s important to make sure your dog stays fit. Research from 2020 found that people who own a diabetic dog are 38% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who own a non-diabetic dog.
Lower blood pressure
A 2022 review of pet ownership, heart disease and hypertension found that the elderly and children seem to lower their high blood pressure the most with a pet.
Petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
“Petting and holding an animal allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature,” explained Dr. Jeremy Barron, a doctor of geriatric medicine in Baltimore. “It’s relaxing and transcendental.”
Military and veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder have been shown to benefit from having a service dog because it reduces the severity of their PTSD, anxiety and loneliness.
Ease the loneliness
Ninety-five percent of pet parents rely on pets for stress relief, according to a 2022 American Heart Association study.
Dr. Beth Frates, director of lifestyle medicine and wellness in the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, suggests that pet owners feel special and loved when they come home to excited dogs to see them and they feel soothed when they hear their cat’s soft purrs.
A survey in Hungary published on Tuesday reported that nearly 94% of dog owners like the “unconditional love” their dog gives them, and 36% benefit from the social interactions their dog creates.
Puppy owners are more likely to meet people in their neighborhood, at dog parks, or in dog-friendly spaces like coffee shops or bars.
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