Want to live longer? New study says dogs can help
Heart attack and stroke survivors who own a dog live longer than those who don't, according to a study published this week. And they're not the only ones.
Researchers in a study and a separate analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association, looked into the impacts of dog ownership on health following studies that indicated social isolation and a lack of physical activity can hurt patients.
The latest evaluation indicates people who suffered heart attacks and lived alone were 33 percent less likely to die if they owned a dog, while stroke victims were 27 percent less likely. The risk of death, regardless of cause, was 24 percent lower for dog owners than non-owners, the study found.
Researcers focused on Swedish people from 40 to 85 who suffered a heart attack or stroke from 2001 through 2012. While the study showed a strong correlation between dog ownership and longer lifespans, the authors noted that they cannot prove that one causes the other.
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Prior studies, according to the researchers' report, have shown that dog ownership alleviates social isolation, improves physical activity and even lowers blood pressure.
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