Humans have had dogs as companions for thousands of years. Over that time, dogs have evolved to become ever-better companions, as we humans selectively bred them for traits that we like, such as friendliness and loyalty.
Dog owners already know that owning a dog reduces stress. But it turns out that the health benefits of owning a dog go quite a bit further: two new studies published this month in the journal Circulation both found that owning a dog reduces your risk of dying.
The first study, by Carolyn Kramer and colleagues at the University of Toronto, reviewed ten other studies dating back more than 50 years, covering 3.8 million people. They compared dog owners to non-owners and found that dog owners had a 24% lower risk of dying, from any cause, over a 10-year period. The benefit was even greater for people who’d suffered a heart attack: those who had a dog at home after their heart attack had a 65% lower risk of dying.
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