Having Pets Could Lead To A Reduction In Cardiovascular Risk

Pets especially the man's best friend, dogs, can help relegate the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to experts from American Heart Association. Science Daily reports that this scientific statement from AHA was published online in the association's journal Circulation.

"Pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease," Glenn N. Levine, M.D, the chair of the committee and a professor at Baylor College of Medicine at Houston, Texas -- writing the statement after examining the earlier studies on the influence of pets among one's health.

The study shows that having pets are more likely to lower the risk of heart disease. This is because pet owners are engaged in more physical activity such as walking when they stroll their dogs every day. One study shows that in over 5,200 adults, 54 percent of dog owners were involved more in physical activity and walking.

"People who have dogs live longer than people who have cats, and the assumption has been that dogs naturally cause their owners to be more active," Dr. Thomas Lee, Co-Editor in Chief  of the Harvard Heart Letter said. "The emotional benefits of having an affectionate creature are also one of the theories for why dog-lovers live longer."

Harvard Health Publications reports that the evidence that is examined by AHA shows that dog owners are engaged more to exercise, have a lower blood pressure, good cholesterol profile and less susceptible to the effects of stress. They also state that pet owners would more likely survive a heart attack.

"In essence, data suggest that there probably is an association between pet ownership and decreased cardiovascular risk," Levine said. "Further research, including better quality studies, is needed to more definitively answer this question."

He also concluded that people should not adopt or buy a pet just to reduce the cardiovascular risk.