We heart dogs

If you're a dog owner, you'll know there's no better personal trainer than a four-legged friend. Dogs love routine and won't let you off the hook until they've taken you on their walk for the day. Having a chat with other dog owners also means that dogs help add a social side to your physical activity.

Dogs help all of us to increase our walking and here at the Heart Foundation we see them as part of the big picture when it comes to heart health. 

Dogs can help improve your mental health

Did you know that people who experience depression, are socially isolated, or do not have good social support have a higher chance of developing heart disease? 

Depression can also be common in patients with heart disease.   

The Heart Foundation resource Depression in patients with coronary heart disease (PDF) shows 15% percent of patients experiencing heart attack or heart surgery (bypass) will have a major depressive disorder. When you also consider milder forms of depression, this figure increases to 40%.  Your close friends and family will be an important support at this time, but pets may also have a role to play - that’s where dogs come in. 

If you’re concerned about your mental health, it is important to speak with your doctor and get help with managing emotional stress.  

Dogs can help reduce stress and blood pressure 

Did you know ongoing stress can increase your risk of developing heart disease? 

Studies have shown that walking with your dog can have a calming effect and can help reduce the physical signs of stress, including lowering your blood pressure.  

A 2017 study of more than three million people in Sweden, aged between 40 and 80, showed that owning a dog could be linked to a lower risk of developing heart disease. The study tracked the health of dog owners for 12 years and found that, among people who lived alone, having a dog may decrease their risk of cardiovascular-related death by 36%. The chances of having a heart attack were 11% lower.  

It’s important to note the limitations of this study. The researchers could not identify how or why the ownership of a dog led to positive health outcomes and could not rule out other factors that may have contributed to the study’s findings.  

Take your dog for a walk today or encourage your friends and family to join dog-friendly walking group.