Add Years To Your Life – Add A Dog To The Family

In two separate studies, researchers from Sweden and Canada found that if you want to live longer, get a dog.  Turns out dog owners live longer than people who don't have a canine.

One group found that older people who live alone are a third less likely to die after a heart attack if they have a pet dog. The UK Mail reports that the American Heart Association cautions that this doesn't prove that dogs will help keep people healthier, but it's pretty good evidence that having a dog is beneficial for older people.

The other group of researchers found that owning a dog was linked to a 65 percent lower risk of dying after a heart attack, a 31 percent lower risk of dying of any cardiovascular cause and surprisingly, a 24 percent lower risk of death by any cause. Well done doggy, well done!!

Scientists say dog owners might feel less loneliness and generally get more exercise than people without dogs, both of which can have protective effects on the body.