8 scientifically proven reasons to get a dog

1. The heart will be healthier

Dog owners are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. And all thanks to regular cardio workouts. You can skip the running workout, but not the dog walk. And in the snow and in the heat, you have to take a leash and leave the house. Even lazy trampling from foot to foot while your pet searches for the right bush is already contributing to heart health. What can we say about long hikes and activities with a dog.

This beneficial effect is even more pronounced for people who have suffered a heart attack or stroke. For them, the appearance of a dog reduces the risk of death from diseases of the cardiovascular system by 31%.

2. Immunity will become stronger

Petting and squeezing a dog is not only pleasant, but also useful. Even short meetings with pets can have a positive effect on your immune system. Unlike the much-hyped fuflomycins, this actually works. If you get a dog, you can strengthen your immune system at least every day.

3. You will improve your fitness

Dog owners are, on average, more fit, physically active, and less prone to obesity than their peers without these pets. In old age, dog owners walk faster and longer, and are even more mobile at home.

4. You will suffer less stress

Communicating with your dog helps calmness, lowers the stress hormone cortisol, and increases happiness and energy. Even short-term contact with an animal helps to cope with negative emotions, for example, to pull yourself together before an exam.

5. You will make new friends

Making new friends is not easy in adulthood, but having an animal expands your circle of acquaintances. Almost half of the dog lovers found new friends while walking with their pets. And in general, people are more positive towards a person if there is a dog next to him.

6. It will be easier for you to deal with pain

Dogs can be so effective at this that they are partly a substitute for medication. For example, patients who came into contact with dogs after joint replacement surgery required 28% fewer pain relievers than those to whom therapy animals were not brought.

7. You won't feel lonely

As we have already found out, the dog helps to find new friends, so if the owner of the animal is alone, then not for long. And until he makes new acquaintances, the dog will not let him get discouraged. Studies show that daily interactions with a pet make people feel less sad and bored. In general, pets stabilize mood and reduce the risk of depression.

8. You will live longer

Dogs don't just make you healthier. For dog owners, mortality from any cause is 24% lower. Scientists made such a conclusion after examining the results of 10 studies. They have been held since the middle of the last century and covered 3.6 million people from eight countries.