11/19 Summary: "Want to live longer? Get a dog"
From CNN
(Summary)
A new Swedish study shows that owing a dog could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death to some extent, whether you live alone or with other people or whether you have hunting breeds or not. The reasons behind this are that dog owners tend to have a higher level of physical activity and that their social well-being and immune system increase by being exposed to dirt and licked. However, according to a doctor, some points need to be considered about this study: it excluded patients with heart disease and disabled people may be less likely to own a dog. At the end of the article, it is suggested that the findings may apply to other countries, not only Sweden although there are the differences in climate and socio-economic backgrounds, which could affect the results. (136 words)
