There was a time when the dog was exclusively outside the kennel and his main task was to guard the property. Nowadays it’s different. The dog is becoming more than a guard, a pet. It becomes a member of the family and many people often have no idea how much of an impact it has on them. They not only have a friend, but a four-legged pet that affects their health. These are exactly the conclusions of experts who have studied the coexistence of animals and humans
What is cardiovascular disease
It is a disease of the heart and blood vessels that is most often the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, whether it is excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity or an overly fatty diet. This disease occurs in middle-aged people and comes on especially after the age of 50. It is more common in men because women protect the female genitalia. But there are also diseases that we include in cardiovascular disease and can be avoided if we change our lifestyle for the better.
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- infarction
- ischemic vascular disease of the lower limbs
Of course, this doesn’t mean that if you start eating vegetables and going for a run, there is zero chance of you having a stroke, but it does significantly reduce the risk.
How the research was conducted
Scientists were able to analyze 3.5 million people in the age range of 40-80 for the research. Based on this, they noticed that people who own a dog have a significantly lower mortality rate than people without one. The whole analysis was greatly helped by the fact that in Sweden every citizen has a personal identification number and dog registration is compulsory there. Thanks to this, they also found a very low incidence of cardiovascular disease among dog owners. This is most likely due to the fact that people who live completely alone have less will to live than people who have a companion to make life more interesting. And also the increased activity caused by the dog’s need to be walked. You get regular exercise, which reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm