Canine MD: Six Ways
Your Dog Can Save Your Heart
By James Jacobson and Kristine
Chandler Madera
Science has finally caught up with what dog lovers have known for
years—that having a dog is great for your health. Here are six ways
science has proven that living with a dog promotes better heart
health.
Decreased cholesterol and triglycerides. Lower cholesterol
and triglycerides reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Results of a three-year study of over 5,700 people showed that those
who lived with pets, including dogs, had lower blood pressure and
triglyceride and cholesterol levels than did non-pet-owners, even
after accounting for additional exercise, smoking, diet, weight, and
socioeconomic profile.
Lowered blood pressure. Women undergoing stress tests have
lower blood pressure in the presence of dog than they have in the
presence of a friend. The simple act of petting your dog causes your
blood pressure to drop. What’s more, the lowered blood pressure
stays in effect even when the dog is no longer present.
Improved chance of surviving a heart attack. A study
conducted by the US Department of Health concluded that 28% of heart
patients with pets, including dogs, survived serious heart attacks,
compared with only 6% of patients who did not have a pet, even after
accounting for factors such as the severity of heart disease.
Longer life-expectancy after a heart attack. A study
published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that men who
had a dog were six times more likely to be alive one year after a
heart attack than men without a dog. The presence of a pet affected
survival rate even more than having a spouse or friends.
Reduced stress. A study by State University of New York at
Buffalo of stockbrokers who had dogs or cats in their offices had
smaller increases in blood pressure when they had to carry out
stressful tasks than those who did not have a pet present.
Increased exercise. One study showed that when people get a
dog, they increase their walking time fivefold—from an average of
one hour to five hours. Five hours of walking per week has a benefit
equal to giving up smoking.
So, the secret to a healthy heart may be trading in that hotdog for
a hot-looking Dachshund—or Great Dane or Boxer.
See Also:
Bow Wow Bliss: Five
Ways to Meditate with Your Dog
Meditation is as simple as a walk in the dog park.
Here are five ways to get started on a non-dogmatic meditation
practice.
Golden Years: Nine Ways a Dog Boosts Your Health
What if there was a simple way to reduce stress,
prolong and improve the quality of your life, banish the blues, and
best of all, decrease the number of doctor visits? There is! Get a
dog. Here are nine ways that having a dog can boost your health.
Canine MD: Eight Ways a Dog Improves Your Child’s Well-Being
Some of our favorite childhood memories involve dogs. But did you
know that warm feeling is based in good science? Here are eight ways
a dog improves your child’s health and well-being.
Active
Compassion in Times of Crisis: How Your Dog Can Help
People have a special connection with their
pets. This sacred bond of unconditional love is a natural starting
place for healing after tragedy, for the victims and for the rest of
us, too.
Dogs - Man's Best Friend
Owning a dog can be a positive, enjoyable experience for the entire family. Keep in mind however, that the decision to own a dog is an important one that should not be taken lightly.
If You Want a Friend, Get a Dog!
Dogs as pets date back at least as far as the days of Pompeii, where the remains of a dog stretched out next to a little boy were recovered from the rubble at Pompeii.
James Jacobson and Kristine Chandler Madera are
authors of How to Meditate with Your Dog: An Introduction to
Meditation for Dog Lovers, which presents a non-dogmatic approach to
meditation. To fetch a free chapter from the book (chapter 3 “The
Three Un-Dogmas”) and the introduction from the audiobook go to
http://www.DogMeditation.com .
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