The Positive Effect Your Dog Has On Your Heart Health
Everything about owning a dog seems to lend itself to better heart health. Just the act of petting a dog lowers heart rate and blood pressure. A Chinese study found that people who own dogs get better sleep at night and are sick less often. Other studies show pet owners have slightly lower cholesterol and are more likely to survive a heart attack.
Having A Dog Can Help Your Heart
There is growing evidence that suggests having a dog may help improve heart health.
Most dog lovers know their pet provide them with love, warmth and comfort. Most know that walking their companion is good exercise. But few know the calming effect their dog has on their heart.
Dogs’ Calming Effect
Dogs’ calming effect on humans also appears to help people handle stress. Research suggests that people with dogs when subjected to stress their heart rate and blood pressure go up less and return to normal more quickly, dampening the effects of stress on the body.
Your Dog And Cardiovascular Disease
Having a dog, is probably associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. This does not mean that there is a clear cause and effect relationship between the two. But it does mean that pet ownership can be a reasonable part of an overall strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
Lower Blood Pressure And Your Dog
Several studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure than non-owners — probably because their pets have a calming effect on them and because dog owners tend to get more exercise. The power of touch also appears to be an important part of this “pet effect.” Several studies show that blood pressure goes down when a person pets a dog.
If you own a dog or are thinking about it, the potential benefits for your heart health are a nice plus. However, pets should not be adopted for the primary purpose of reducing heart disease risk. And definitely don’t add a dog to your life if you’re not ready or able to take care of one, including making sure it gets enough exercise.
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