Pet Dog Owners Are Less at Risk of Death Due to Illness

Pet dog owners are less at risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases and other illnesses. According to the health service of the BBC news network, the results of a study on 3.4 million Swedish citizens show that keeping dogs, especially hunting breeds, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study has one of the largest sample sizes of its kind. Based on this report, keeping pet dogs not only increases the physical activity of their owners but also enhances social relationships and mental health. Another reason researchers cite for the reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases in dog owners is the change in the microbiome system of these individuals. The microbiome, or the system of 'symbiotic microorganisms', is a collection of bacteria present in the intestines of living beings. Dogs alter the pollution and bacteria present in the home, and researchers believe these changes may play a role in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in humans. This research, published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, also shows that single individuals living with dogs are 33% less likely to die and 11% less likely to suffer a heart attack. This is while previous studies have shown that people living alone are at a higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Mobanga, one of the authors of this research, states: 'Dogs may play the role of an important family member in the life of a lonely person.' Dr. Mike Napton from the British Heart Foundation also mentions that having a dog is associated with reduced mortality and lower risk of heart disease. Previous research had indicated this relationship, although the results were not definitive. However, now, due to the large sample size, this can be stated with certainty.