Research Shows People With Dogs Live Longer, Especially After A Heart Attack

We already know that owning dogs makes our lives better. But there may be more to that than meets the eye, according to research published in an American Heart Association known as Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

The research concerned two well-written and high-quality studies as well as meta-analyses, much of which was based on previous credible studies. As such, researchers are pretty certain that dogs are capable of helping people to live longer lives, especially after a stroke or heart attack, as indicated by comparisons of dog owners and those without pets.

The studies involved a comparison of dog owners and non-owners after they had one of the aforementioned diseases. The data collected concerned those between the ages of 45 and 80. The resulting data showed that:

• Patients who live alone after a heart attack have a 33% lower death risk if they have a dog
• Patients who live with family after a heart attack have a 15% lower death risk if they have a dog
• Patients who live alone after a stroke have a 27% lower death risk if they have a dog
• Patients who live with family after a stroke have a 12% lower death risk if they have a dog

Why does this happen? A few hypotheses are:

• Increased activity when caring for a dog
• Lowered risk of loneliness and depression
• Higher chance of socialization

Whatever the case, it proves one thing – dogs really can save lives!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay