New study shows owning a dog lowers risk of cardiovascular disease

[Guest Nicole]

Everyone knows that a dog is a man’s best friend, but a recently released Swedish study is giving that hackneyed saying a whole new meaning for men — and women — everywhere.

The study, published in Scientific Reports on Friday, found that dog ownership may really help you live longer.

The study tracked, over a period of 12 years, more than 3.4 million Swedish adults without a history of heart disease. Overall, the study concluded, dog ownership was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and "all-cause mortality" in the general population.

The effects of dog ownership were especially pronounced in single-person households, where the presence of a pet lowered the risk of death by 33 percent and chances of a heart attack by 11 percent.

The study linked ownership of breeds originally bred for hunting, including terriers and retrievers, with the lowest risk of CVD.

Read more: https://www.today.com/health/new-study-shows-owning-dog-lowers-risk-cardiovascular-disease-t119021

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

I try to be the man, my dog thinks I am.