“The best thing you can do to add years to your life may surprise you. Get a dog!” Buettner advised during a recent episode of “The Dan Buettner Podcast<\/a>.” “Research shows that dog owners live longer, suffer fewer heart attacks and experience less loneliness. Why? Because a dog forces you to walk every day, gives you a purpose and provides unconditional love.”<\/p>\n LEADING ONCOLOGIST REVEALS 6 HABITS THAT COULD PROMOTE LONGEVITY AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CHRONIC ILLNESS<\/a><\/p>\n Dog ownership<\/a> is associated with a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality for the general population compared to non-owners, according to research published by the American Heart Association in its journal Circulation.<\/p>\n For individuals who have already suffered a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack or stroke<\/a>, living with a dog reduced the risk of death by up to 33%.<\/p>\n “The best thing you can do to add years to your life may surprise you. Get a dog!” a longevity expert advised. (iStock)<\/p>\n Epidemiologists and psychologists point to three reasons why canine companions may extend human lifespans.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n No. 1: Daily physical activity<\/p>\n Studies published in BMC Public Health indicate that dog owners walk an average of 22 more minutes per day than non-owners, making them significantly more likely to meet standard weekly physical activity guidelines.<\/p>\n Dog owners average an extra 22 minutes of daily walking compared to non-owners, making them more likely to meet standard recommended exercise benchmarks. (iStock)<\/p>\n No. 2: Stress reduction<\/p>\n Interacting with a pet lowers levels of cortisol<\/a> \u2014 the body\u2019s primary stress hormone \u2014while boosting oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. A 12-year Swedish study analyzing 3.4 million participants found that dog owners had lower blood pressure and reduced rates of cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n No. 3: Reduced isolation<\/p>\n The U.S. Surgeon General has declared chronic loneliness<\/a> a national public health epidemic, comparing its health risks to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.<\/p>\n Dogs act as natural “social catalysts,” fostering community interaction and providing emotional attachment that combats isolation, particularly in single-person households, experts say.<\/p>\n Dogs act as social catalysts that mitigate chronic loneliness, addressing a health hazard that the U.S. Surgeon General equates to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (iStock)<\/p>\n The links between human longevity<\/a> and caring for a pet aligns with principles found in the “blue zones” \u2014 regions of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians.<\/p>\n These key principles include natural daily movement, a strong sense of purpose, stress reduction and deep social connections, according to Buettner.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n By incorporating a dog into a daily routine, owners can incorporate these habits without having to engineer complex health regimens.<\/p>\n![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/couple-in-woods-with-dog.jpg\")
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