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Owning a dog not only brings many people joy, but it may actually make them healthier people.<\/p>\n
A recent study on Oct. 8 by the American Heart Association notes that owning a dog lowers the risk of death by a heart attack or stroke by 31 percent. Compared to non-owners, it also reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 24 percent. Caroline Kramer, assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, said having a dog is associated with increased physical activity, which lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n
Laura Jamison, a stroke survivor from and dog owner Fort Mill said, \u201cmy next-door neighbors at our lake house just lost their two dogs within just a month or so of each other. I\u2019m like how can you stay in the house . . . being so empty there\u2019s like nobody there, so if I didn\u2019t have Lucy and Mia, I\u2019d probably just go nuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AHA study notes that social isolation is bad for health, so owning a dog can be a great way to decrease depression and loneliness.<\/p>\n
Shawn Arent, exercise science chair at the University of South Carolina said, \u201cwe also know that petting an animal lowers blood pressure [and] it helps reduce heart rate. There\u2019s other stress mitigating factors that go with it, so I think some of it is that human\/animal bond that is on the social side, and then the other part is the role of hoping the dog helps with overall activity status too.”<\/p>\n
Arent added that pet owners can get their dose of physical activity by walking their dogs, rather than just opening the door and putting them outside.<\/p>\n
Tove Fall, professor at Uppsala University in Sweden explained that keeping a dog creates motivation for physical activity, which is an important factor in mental health.<\/p>\n
Jeff Boulware is a dog owner from Fort Mill who lives alone since his wife passed away a couple years ago. His dog, Trump, keeps him moving more so than if he didn\u2019t own a dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe walk not a long way anymore because of his age, but we do get up and do walking at least twice a day,” Boulware said.<\/p>\n
Kramer said, \u201cthe next step on this topic would be an interventional study to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes after adopting a dog and the social and psychological benefits of dog ownership.”<\/p>\n
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Stroke survivor, Laura Jamison plays with her dog Lucy in the backyard.<\/p>\n
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