PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Dr. Mehak Dhande is the proud fur-parent of a 2-year-old golden retriever named Archie.
She’s quick to recommend pet ownership to others, noting Archie helped her and her husband find community in Pittsburgh, where they’re transplants, and brings her family so much joy.
But she’s also quick to recommend pet ownership to her patients as a cardiologist at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
“Apart from the fact that dogs are extremely cute and very cuddly and become a part of your family very, very quickly, so … it seems quite intuitive to think that dogs are good for your family and good for your life, but there’s actual cardiovascular data to support this,” she says. “There are some very large observational studies, some of them from Sweden, some from Australia, Canada, that actually show that dog owners live longer.”
One of the reasons is that having a dog means you have to walk the dog, thus you’re more physically active.
“We know that cardiovascular risk itself is decreased with physical activity, so the more active you are, the better your cardiovascular outcomes, whether you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease, or whether you already have cardiovascular disease … the physical activity really helps decrease subsequent cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death,” she says.
But another reason that dogs help cardiovascular health is that they decrease stress.
“They decrease blood pressure, they decrease stress, and they increase oxytocin, or, you know, bonding hormones, if you will.”
She also notes that loneliness has been shown to increase cardiovascular risk, and having a dog can improve that as well.
“The impact of pets on social isolation has been another reason that I personally think having a dog is absolutely amazing for your cardiovascular health,” she says.
COURTESY DR. MEHAK DHANDE
Dhande notes having a dog helps build community — your neighborhood dog park may become your main spot for socialization.
“That also goes to the loneliness part,” she notes. “There’s statements from the American Heart Association, from the American College of Cardiology, that have looked at loneliness and social isolation and its correlation with cardiovascular disease.”
Even cats can be beneficial for your health, but dogs are better for cardiovascular health because of the physical activity factor.
“That regularity of walking your dog is what’s most correlated with improving cardiovascular outcomes for people at risk and people with known heart disease as well,” she says.
One thing Dhande cautions is getting a dog, or any pet, in order to help your health. You have to be ready to care for a pet, she says.
“You must love them and treat them well, and the heart health is a beautiful, wonderful byproduct.”
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