Do Dogs Reduce Risks for Heart Disease?

By Julie McCormick, Co-Owner | October 9, 2019 | Comments Off on Do Dogs Reduce Risks for Heart Disease?

There’s no doubt that owning a dog can have a lot of benefits for your aging relative.

Dogs offer unconditional love and companionship, which is especially important if the older adult lives alone. Dogs also keep people entertained with their antics and their joy at simple things, like their owner walking in the door or a scratch behind the ear. Now, new research suggests that dogs may also improve heart health and reduce the chances that your older family members will develop heart disease.

 

Home Care Services in Clark County VA: Dogs Reduce Risk

Home Care Services in Clark County VA: Dogs Reduce Risk

 

Research Shows Dogs May Help Fight Heart Disease

The new research conducted by Czech scientists isn’t the first one to suggest that pet ownership has health benefits. The American Heart Association itself has even released a statement that said owning a dog may lower the risk for heart disease.

To study how owning a dog affects the risk of heart disease, researchers used information collected from a Czech health survey that was taken by 1,769 adults between the ages of 25 and 64. The results showed that 67 percent of people who owned a dog met the exercise recommendations of the American Heart Association, which is 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, and muscle-strengthening exercises on at least two days of the week. Only 48 percent of people without dogs met the exercise recommendations. Dog owners also did a better job of following a heart-healthy diet than those without dogs.

 

Experts speculate that the reasons for people with dogs following heart-healthy recommendations involve a couple of factors.

Obviously, those who walk a dog several times per week are getting some exercise. But, what might be the reason for a better diet? It could be that dogs relieve feelings of loneliness. In addition, having a dog may offer a sense of purpose since it gives the owner someone to take care of and be responsible for. It’s possible that this could offer a reason to take better care of themselves.

Of course, your aging relative should not adopt a dog simply to improve their heart health. Owning a dog is a big commitment. However, if they like dogs and are interested in having a companion, being elderly shouldn’t keep them from adopting one.

Senior care can assist your older family member to care for a dog. A senior care provider can remind them to feed the dog and help them to do it. Senior care providers can also go for walks with the older adult and the dog, making sure both get exercise. And, when it is time for the dog to visit the vet, a senior care provider can drive the older adult and the dog to the vet’s office and assist them while there.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Clark County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.

Sources
https://www.webmd.com/

Julie McCormick, Co-Owner
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