Do Dogs Help Your Health? New Studies Show Ownership Linked To Longer Life, Especially For Heart Patients

Dog owners have something to celebrate after the release of two new health studies.

In “Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes,” a journal from the American Heart Association, research found that "dog ownership may be associated with longer life and better cardiovascular outcomes." This is especially true in patients who have suffered heart attacks or strokes.

Patient studies in Sweden between 2001 and 2012 found lower rates of death from a heart attack or stroke in all categories. Although cause and effect could not be established, the results are still promising. Some potentials reasons for these findings include the increase in physical activity or decreases in loneliness and depression.

Those who had previously suffered from one of the above-mentioned conditions saw the most significant results. Researchers found that heart attack survivors with dogs were 33% lower risk of death if they lived alone and a 15% less chance if they lived with family or loved ones. The numbers for stroke survivors were similar.

“The findings in these two well-done studies and analyses build upon prior studies and the conclusions of the 2013 AHA Scientific Statement “Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Risk” that dog ownership is associated with reductions in factors that contribute to cardiac risk and to cardiovascular events,” Dr. Glenn N. Levine said on behalf of the AHA. “Further, these two studies provide good, quality data indicating dog ownership is associated with reduced cardiac and all-cause mortality.”