While it’s well-known that the benefits of owning a dog are plentiful –improved mental health, combatting loneliness, reducing stress – a new study shows that your four-legged friend may just help you live longer as well.
A Swedish study conducted on 3.4 million participants ultimately found that dog owners have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, thus lowering their mortality rate, than any other participants.
Comparing 40-80-year-old dog owners with non-dog owning counterparts of the same age, the study found that dog owners had a 33% reduction in risk of death and 11% reduction in risk of heart attack.
Ultimately, the reason for dog owners living longer came down to two factors: owning a dog keeps you physically active, and having a pet can improve your immune system due to exposure to bacteria you may not otherwise have encountered.
Speaking on the results, British Heart Foundation member Dr Mike Knapton told The BBC: “Dog ownership has many benefits, and we may now be able to count better heart health as one of them… However, as many dog owners may agree, the main reason for owning a dog is the sheer joy."
Nonetheless, don’t fret if you don’t own a dog as Knapton added: "Whether you're a dog owner or not, keeping active is a great way to help improve your heart health."
