Owning a Dog May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

The American Heart Association released a surprising statement: Owning a dog is associated with a lower risk in heart disease, and maybe blood pressure, cholesterol levels, obesity and the response to stress.

Of course finding a correlation does not prove causation. But there is a mounting body of evidence that does point toward pet ownership being a good thing for people's health. We have long been advocates of animal therapy here at My Doctor Medical Group.

According to the AHA's statement, research shows that: Pet ownership is probably associated with a reduction in heart disease risk factors and increased survival among patients. Dog ownership in particular may help reduce cardiovascular risk.

People with dogs may engage in more physical activity because they walk them. In a study of more than 5,200 adults, dog owners engaged in more walking and physical activity than non-dog owners, and were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended level of physical activity.

Owning pets may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and a lower incidence of obesity. Pets can have a positive effect on the body's reactions to stress.

Here at My Doctor Medical Group, we are fortunate to have a pet therapy expert on staff: veterinarian Laurie Pearlstein DVM, whom we have asked to write a blog post on 'Getting a Dog' covering important considerations like what kind of dog, shelters vs. breeders, and pet insurance.