We all know that dogs are able to give us unconditional love and support when we need it, but did you know that they are actually good for your health? A study has managed to give dog lovers yet another reason to justify their obsessions with their canine companions.
Dogs are often used in therapy situations to help with emotional health, but this new study has shown how owning a dog will actually impact you physically. The results are honestly the best news for anyone who loves their dog.
After twelve years of research, the scientific study showed that people who own dogs are much more likely to have better cardiovascular health. The effect is strongest on people who are single, but all people seem to benefit.
Here's what the study said...
"Dog ownership was especially prominent as a protective factor in persons living alone, which is a group reported previously to be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death," researcher Mwenya Mubanga said. "Perhaps a dog may stand in as an important family member in the single households."
They were able to track the health of dog owners, focusing on people between 40 and 80 years of age. What they found was that people who own a dog while living alone are 11% less likely to develop heart disease, and 33% less likely to die young.
It also seems that hunting dogs, like beagles, retrievers, and setters, are actually the best dog to own because they offer greatest chance at increasing your health.
As for how these dogs are actually helping, the scientists suspect that it's the activity level that accompanies a dog, but it's not the only reason. "We know that dog owners in general have a higher level of physical activity, which could be one explanation to the observed results. Other explanations include an increased well-being and social contacts or effects of the dog on the bacterial microbiome in the owner."
