Owning a dog can help you live longer — 4 ways they boost your health

Owning a dog could give you a new leash on life.

following a heart attack or stroke.

identified four major ways that being a pup parent can be good for your heart.

Become more active

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US-recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week than non-dog owners.

Dog owners tend to do more recreational walking, the researchers found, and walking the dog did not replace more intense forms of exercise.

A depressed, diabetic divorcé Even his pup Peety lost 25 pounds.

Reduce risk of chronic disease

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Regular exercise helps with weight management and blood sugar control, significantly reducing the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

12-week walking schedule with your dog.

It’s important to ensure your dog stays in shape. Research from 2020 found that people who own a dog with diabetes are 38% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who have a non-diabetic dog.

Lower blood pressure

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high blood pressure the most with a pet.

Petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases the feel-good hormone oxytocin.

“Petting and holding an animal allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature,” explained Dr. Jeremy Barron, a geriatric medicine physician in Baltimore. “It’s relaxing and transcendental.”

Military members and veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder have been shown to benefit from having a service dog because it reduces the severity of their PTSD, anxiety and loneliness.

Ease loneliness

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Ninety-five percent of pet parents rely on their pets for stress relief, according to a 2022 American Heart Association survey.

Dr. Beth Frates, director of lifestyle medicine and wellness at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Surgery, suggests that pet owners feel special and loved when they come home to dogs excited to see them and feel soothed when they hear their cat’s gentle purrs.

A Hungary survey published Tuesday reported that nearly 94% of dog owners like the “unconditional love” their pooch provides them, and 36% benefit from social interactions generated by their dog.

Pup owners are more likely to meet people in their neighborhood, in dog parks or in dog-friendly spaces like cafés or bars.