Emotional Support Dog Owners Live Longer

Dog owners, on average, get 150 more minutes of moderate physical activity per week.

However, dogs do a lot more for us than just make us go out for a walk around the block. And the effects of emotional support dogs are even greater. These canines provide the much needed stability, companionship, and therapeutic benefits. Emotional support dogs help their owners deal with depression, PTSD, anxiety, stress, and a variety of other mental health disorders. They can help prevent or stop panic attacks and reduce stress in various situations, allowing the blood pressure to stabilize faster.

In today’s stressful world, having a loyal companion such as an emotional support dog can help deal with a variety of issues and improve lifespan. Dog owners get an average of 23 minutes more exercise per day than people who don’t own a dog. This allows them to meet the minimum health requirements of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.

We know that the lack of physical activity is the culprit for a variety of health disorders. Hence, getting enough exercise is crucial for both physical and emotional health. Dog owners are happier, more active, and engage in more social relationships thanks to their dogs. This is especially true for those that live alone. But even a family pet in a multi-person household has the power to change your dynamics for the better and help you live longer.

Emotional support dogs can also travel with their owners on airplanes and stay with them even in housing facilities that generally aren’t pet-friendly. So no matter where you need to go, you can take your four-legged companion with you. This is vital for most emotional support dog owners since these animals are there to help them participate in normal daily activities.

Overview of the Studies Conducted in Sweden and England

“Owning a dog is good motivation to get out and exercise and may provide some social support.”

The Swedish study included 3.4 million people between the ages 40 and 80, over the span of 12 years. The researchers accounted for the age, sex, marital status, income, history of cardiovascular disease, and other factors in the lives of participants. The results are in and they suggest that dog ownership is a significant factor in reducing the risk of death overall and especially reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Since cardiovascular diseases are among the top causes of death in the modern society, the study has captured everyone’s attention.

Senior author, Dr. Tove Fall of the Uppsala University stated that “Owning a dog is good motivation to get out and exercise and may provide some social support,” but that “not everyone is up to owning a dog. Don’t give a dog to your grandmother in the hope that she’ll live longer.”

Although getting a dog is no magic potion for longevity, the benefits are painfully obvious.

A study conducted in England included 86 participants 65 to 81 years of age. Although smaller in size, the study shows that senior citizens can get enough exercise simply by walking their dogs every day. And the beauty of it is that seasonal changes and bad weather didn’t affect the habits of dog owners.

Half of the participants in the study had dogs and the other half didn’t and the groups were matched according to sex, height, weight, health conditions and walking abilities. One of the authors, Dr. Daniel Simon Mills, stated that “It’s very difficult to find any other intervention that produces this size of effect” and that “It’s good evidence that dog ownership amongst the elderly increases physical activity in a meaningful and healthy way”.

Conclusion

Owning an emotional support dog can help you lead a long, healthy, happy life. Research has just confirmed what we already knew. Dog ownership reduces stress, increases healthy activity, and improves social relationships, all of which can help boost your resilience, immune system, and prolong your life.

But with emotional support dogs, physical activity is just one piece of the puzzle. These canines will be there for you day and night, making sure you get all the support you need to function and stay motivated to live your life to the fullest.

So do yourself a favor and don’t shy away from getting an emotional support dog if you need one.

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