A Doggone Purrfect Secret to a Healthy Heart

I was walking my dog in our neighborhood the other day when I ran into my friend Jill. I see her frequently on my walks, but this day was different, because Jill — who has never been a pet owner — had an adorable puppy with her!

I stooped down to pet the lively mutt (and my dog gave him a special canine greeting, too). “So you finally decided to get a dog,” I said to Jill. “What changed your mind?”

“Heart disease runs in my family,” she said. “And I want to stay healthy!”

It makes sense. Over the years, scientific research has shown that, by and large, pet owners are happier and healthier than folks who do not share their homes with furry companions. And now, after examining scads of studies, the American Heart Association has issued a statement saying that owning a pet can reduce your danger of cardiovascular disease and improve your odds of surviving a heart attack. There are four reasons:

Increased movement. Dog owners who walk and play with their pets are 54 percent more likely to get the level of physical activity recommended for good heart health. Having a cat also demands that you get up off the couch and move your body around — and every step counts.

Lowered key numbers. Owning a pet has been directly linked to lower blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and a lower likelihood of obesity — thereby mitigating three major risk factors for heart disease.

Reduced stress. Research shows that simply looking at a beloved pet calms you down in two ways: Your body releases a powerful feel-good chemical called oxytocin and, at the same time, decreases its output of the stress hormone cortisol.

Social interaction. This is an especially important factor if you live alone because study after study has found that interacting with animals (just as with people) leads to better health — including a stronger heart — and a longer life. Plus, when you have a dog, in addition to benefiting from his companionship at home, you get daily opportunities to boost your social time by taking Fido out to mix and mingle with human neighbors, like my lovely friend Jill.