Owning a Dog Is Linked to Reduced Heart Risk

Perhaps we should call them “cardiologists’ helpers.”
photo by photo via New York Times

 

We already know that owning a dog is good for your health, both mental and physical, but here’s a fascinating story that gets to specific benefits. According to the American Heart Association, the presence of a dog in your household is “probably associated” with a reduced risk of heart disease:

“We didn’t want to make this too strong of a statement,” said Dr. Levine, a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine. “But there are plausible psychological, sociological and physiological reasons to believe that pet ownership might actually have a causal role in decreasing cardiovascular risk.”

So pat your dogs on the head and offer up a bit of thanks; they may be helping you live longer.

Click here for the full story.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *