Dog Is Man’s Best Friend Post Heart Attack

According to a study in Circulation, after suffering a heart attack or stroke, a dog really is man’s best friend.

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Cleveland Clinic’s Doctor Luke Laffin did not take part in the research, but says results show owning a dog was associated with better outcomes.

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CG:  Dr. Luke Laffin | Cleveland Clinic

“What they found was that those dog owners actually had a lower risk of having recurrent cardiovascular events.” [:07]

The study looks at more than one-hundred eighty thousand people between the ages of forty and eighty-five, who had previously suffered a hear attack or stroke.

Results show dog owners who lived alone, had a 33% reduced risk of death when compared with people who suffered a heart attack and lived alone without a dog.

Doctor Laffin says the relationship between dog ownership and heart health makes sense.

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Dogs typically have to go for walks, which gets you out the door and moving, which is good for heart health.

Dogs also provide companionship, so it’s possible that dog owners have less loneliness.

Previous studies show depression and loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease.

But if you can’t own a dog –don’t worry.

Doctor Laffin says people can still mimic the benefits of owning one for the sake of their heart health.

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CG: Dr. Luke Laffin | Cleveland Clinic

“They can go out for regular physical activity –maybe a walk, jog or even classes like yoga, swimming –those are all great activities that you don’t need a dog to do.” [:10]

Doctor Laffin says getting more physical activity on a regular basis can go a long way towards better heart health and longevity.

 

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Complete results of the study can be found in Circulation.

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Today Is National Walking Day!

THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN THE MONTH OF APRIL IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL WALKING DAY.

MY FAVORITE NON-COMPETITIVE SPORT!  BUT ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C, EIGHTY PERCENT OF AMERICANS DO NOT GET THE RECOMMENDED TWO AND A HALF HOURS OF MODERATE-INTENSITY AEROBIC EXERCISE EACH WEEK.

ERICA STEPTEAU IS A HEALTH COACH AT CLEVELAND CLINIC. SHE SAYS THAT STARTING A WALKING ROUTINE IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS GETTING YOUR BODY MORE ACTIVE.

CG: Erica Stepteau, MPH/Cleveland Clinic “Get up every five to ten minutes. Put a timer on your phone and see that those are ways that can actually help you get up more instead of just sitting all day.”[00:08]

STEPTEAU SAYS WE TEND TO UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF WALKING.

SHE SAYS IT DOESN’T TAKE A GYM MEMBERSHIP OR A PERSONAL TRAINER TO GET YOURSELF UP AND MOVING.

WALKING IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FIT INTO YOUR DAY ALMOST ANYWHERE. AND IT NOT ONLY HELPS YOUR HEALTH, BUT CAN ALSO BOOST YOUR MOOD.

STEPTEAU RECOMMENDS WALKING DURING YOUR LUNCH BREAK, TAKING THE STAIRS, AND WHEN YOU GET HOME, GET YOUR PETS OUT AND MOVING WITH YOU.

SHE ALSO SAID THAT SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER CHANGING TO START WALKING OUTDOORS.

IF BRISK WALKING IS YOUR GOAL, SHE SAYS YOU WANT TO WORK YOUR WAY UP TO THE POINT WHERE IT’S A LITTLE CHALLENGING TO TALK WHILE WALKING.

AND LIKE ANY EXERCISE PLAN, STEPTEAU SAYS YOU’LL HAVE BETTER RESULTS IF YOU CAN FIND A BUDDY TO WALK WITH.

CG: Erica Stepteau/Cleveland Clinic “It can help you push you beyond your own limits because that person may be at a different level than you; higher or lower, depending; but it helps you either be the encouragement that that person needs to step it up, or it could be the encouragement for you to step it up for yourself.”[00:14]

IF GETTING YOURSELF MOVING IS A REAL CHALLENGE, STEPTEAU SAYS THAT IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT AND TO JUST START SLOW.

SHE SAYS IF YOU’VE BEEN INACTIVE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING A NEW EXERCISE ROUTINE.

 

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HAPPY NATIONAL WALKING DAY!  Stay healthy.  -Maria Dorfner

http://www.clevelandclinic.org