Veggies, Exercise and Pooches
A dog is man’s best friend. But a new Swedish study reveals that your pooch can also reduce your risk of heart disease and death, CNN reported.
According to the study, owning a dog decreases one’s risk of death by 33 percent. It also reduces the risk of heart disease by 36 percent, and the chances of a heart attack are 11 percent lower.
Researchers speculate that your dog’s need to be active and his tendency to get filthy makes you healthier by strengthening your immune system and improving your hygiene.
“It may encourage owners to improve their social life, and that in itself will reduce their stress level, which we know absolutely is a primary cause for cardiovascular disease and cardiac events,” said Dr. Rachel Bond, who was not involved in the study.
Researchers are hoping to expand their study to find out if specific breeds are more beneficial than others, and how climate and socioeconomic factors affected the results.
But dogs aren’t the only furry health aid. Owning any type of pet can decrease your stress levels and blood pressure, two factors that can help you live longer, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.
Want to live longer? Eat those veggies, pump that iron and get a pooch.
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