Dog Ownership Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Want to lower your risk of heart disease? While there's no substitution for exercising and eating right, new research suggests that owning a dog can lower your risk of developing heart disease.

For the study, a team of Swedish scientists analyzed data from several existing studies involving more than 3.4 million people between the ages of 40 and 80, paying close attention to the correlation between dog ownership and heart health. It's no secret that heart disease is a serious medical condition. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it's the world's leading cause of death, accounting for more than 600,000 deaths every year. Although there's no way to completely prevent heart disease, this study suggests that owning a dog could lower your risk of developing it. 

After analyzing the data, researchers found that people who owned a dog were 33% less likely to die from all causes than their counterparts who didn't own a dog. Additionally, dog owners were 11% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

"The results showed that single dog owners had a 33% reduction in risk of death and 11% reduction in risk of myocardial infarction during follow-up compared to single non-owners. Another interesting finding was that owners to dogs from breed groups originally bred for hunting were most protected,” said lead author and researcher Mwenya Mubanga of the Department of Medical Sciences and the Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University.

So, how exactly does owning a dog lead a lower risk of heart disease? That question remains open for discussion. This study simply found a correlation between dog ownership and a lower risk of heart disease. It didn't reveal why dog owners experience this health benefit. With that said, however, the heart health benefits of dog ownership could be attributed to hormonal activity. Other studies have shown that contact between humans and dogs triggers the release of certain hormones like endorphins and oxytocin, which could have a positive impact on mood and stress.

Regardless of how it works, the general consensus is that owning a dog is good for your health. Whether you prefer small or large breeds, there's nothing that compared to the unconditional love and companionship offered by man's best friend. The fact that it can your risk of developing heart disease is just one more reason to consider adopting a dog.

This study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.