Dog owners know how much happiness, love and warmth their four-legged friends bring them. But more recently, another study was conducted that proves that dogs not only affect our emotional state and reduce stress levels, they can also improve the physical health of their owner.
The study was conducted in Sweden among 3.4 million people. Its authors collected information about the participants for 12 years.
The team of researchers analyzed people between the ages of 40 and 80, who included people of different genders, health conditions, singles and families, dog owners and those who live without animals.
As a result, it was found that the death rate in dog owners is 33% lower compared to ordinary people, and the risk of a heart attack is 11% lower. In addition, the researchers came to another interesting conclusion: among dog owners, there are those who can be classified as centenarians. These are lovers of huntiing breed succh aas terrierss, retriievers and hounds.
And the reason is not only that dogg oowners leadmore activee lifestylle and are more often in the air. Although, undoubtedly this is the main factor.
Owning a dog can also affect a person’s microbiome, exposing them to contact and exposure to bacteria that people without a dog don’t experience, according to the study’s authors.
So if you want to live longer, get a dog.