Having a Dog Can Help Your Heart! 

We all know that dogs add so much warmth and comfort to our lives. However, many people do not know that evidence shows that having a dog may help improve heart health. Pet ownership, especially having a dog, is linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Please note that this does not mean that there is a clear cause and effect relationship between the two. What it does mean is that pet ownership can be a reasonable part of an overall strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.

There are many studies which show that dog owners have lower blood pressure than non-owners. This is because dogs have a calming effect on people, and they tend to get us more active with exercise. The power of touch also appears to be an important part as well. Several studies show that blood pressure drops when a person pets a dog.

There is also evidence showing that owning a dog is associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There was a large study that showed that dog owners had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than non-owners, and that these differences weren’t associate by smoking, diet, or body mass index (BMI).

If you currently own a dog, or are looking into it, the potential benefits for your heart health is a nice advantage! Just know that pets should not be adopted for the primary purpose of reducing the risk of heart disease. Furthermore, you should never adopt a dog if you are not ready or able to take care of one, including making sure that they get enough exercise.