A new statement released by the American Heart Association (AHA) says that owning a pet may result in a lowered risk for developing heart disease. The organization attributes this protective effect to our four-legged friends because their owners were less likely to be obese, as well as have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
"Pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease," said Glenn N. Levine, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and chairman of the committee who released the AHA statement.
The AHA analyzed data collected from 5,200 adults and found that those who own dogs engaged in more physical activity as compared to those who don't because they are responsible for walking their pooches.
There have also been other studies that indicate the therapeutic effect that man's best friend can offer---a characteristic that is often used in therapy programs that use dogs to help others cope during trying times.
The statement, published in the journal Circulation, acknowledges that while there are blatant factors that contribute to a decreased risk for heart disease, more research needs to be conducted to establish a definite link between pet ownership and a reduction in cardiovascular disease.
"What's less clear is whether the act of adopting or acquiring a pet could lead to a reduction in cardiovascular risk in those with pre-existing disease," Levine said.
And pet ownership seems to prevalent in the country, as an estimated 78.2 million people in the U.S. own a dog, while 86.4 million are cat owners---according to the National Pet Owners Survey conducted in 2011-2012 by the American Pet Product Association.
But whether or not pets have the ability to reduce depression, anxiety and reduce other stressors that come with everyday life---as has been reported in previous research---pet lovers know how much joy can come of having a pet by their side.