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A tailed pet will help not only to smile more often, but also to live longer.
A new study by Canadian scientists proved that the life expectancy of dog owners is 24% higher than average. Based on 10 large-scale studies that have been conducted since the 1950s and covered 4 million people from 8 countries.
In such a huge amount of information, researchers were interested in two indicators: the person’s presence of a dog (or dogs) and life expectancy. An analysis of the data showed that overall mortality (that is, the risk of dying from literally anything) is 24% lower than average for dog lovers. When scientists dug deeper, it became clear that this advantage boils down to heart health.
Dog owners have a significantly reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, this effect is more pronounced in people who have previously had a stroke or heart attack. In this case, the appearance of a furry friend reduces the risk of death from such diseases by 31%.
Do you want to live longer? Get a dog
Why is this happening? Researchers note that pets help relieve stress , which has a positive effect on heart health. This is excellent, but the more important reason lies on the surface: dogs need to be walked. Even if you do not go further than the neighboring quarter, regular exercise will positively affect your health.