You choke down the pills your doctor prescribed.
Gag on “heart healthy” salads with ingredients you can’t even identify.
And drag yourself to the gym religiously.
And despite a ton of suffering, it doesn’t seem to make much of a dent in your heart health.
But it turns out there’s research showing there’s a FUN prescription to keep your ticker in tip-top shape.
And if you’re at risk of heart disease, you’ll want to adopt THIS heart health solution ASAP.
Because it not only can drive your blood pressure down, and slash your risk of a stroke. It can do wonders for your mood too.
“Man’s best friend” is your heart’s BFF too
Researchers stumbled onto the cutest cure for heart disease you can imagine. Just adopt a puppy.
I know it may sound a little too adorable for words. But research proves bringing a bundle of fluff home is great for your heart health.
In the pilot study, people over 60 who had brought a pooch home to share their lives with, had a systolic blood pressure that was a full 3.34 milligrams lower than folks without furry friends.
Systolic BP measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. And although it might not sound like a lot, lowering it by 3.34 milligrams has a significant impact on your health.
In fact, it can slash your risk of stroke by over 15 percent.
Rover has a remarkable effect on heart health
And this isn’t the only time we’ve seen man’s best friend do incredible things for heart health. In another study, researchers found that owning a dog is associated with lower cholesterol AND triglycerides too.
And the link remained even after they adjusted the data for people’s diets, weight, and smoking status. Having a dog was the ONLY difference.
According to experts, these remarkable heart benefits may be because dogs have a natural calming effect on folks.
When dog owners get stressed, researchers found their heart rates and blood pressure bump up a bit. But then return to normal quickly. While those without canine companions can overreact to stress… and suffer the heart health fallout.
Another study revealed having a dog could add YEARS to your life… slashing your risk of death from ANYTHING by a stunning 33 percent.
But that’s not all Rover can do for you….
The canine cure for obesity
If you’re fighting the battle of the bulge, I have another excellent reason for you to bring home a fluffy pal. Your new bestie could help you shed pounds without even trying.
A recent survey found that only 13 percent of pet-owners were obese. While a whopping 50 percent of folks without pets were carrying around extra weight… and suffering the consequences.
The most obvious reason for this is that having a dog increases the amount of exercise you get. All those early morning and evening walks with your dog… and play sessions… add up.
In fact, one study found that after adopting a dog people were physically active for more than an extra hour per week. And another found dog owners walk 22 more minutes per day. That’s burning some serious butter. And of course when you weigh less your blood pressure is likely to drop too.
But experts say there is another unexpected reason a dog can help you shed a few pounds. Having one makes you feel less lonely. And that translates into less overeating triggered by isolation or boredom
Picking out a pooch to improve high blood pressure
To get the MOST pooch power out of your pup consider adopting a more active breed.
Chihuahuas and other lapdogs are adorable, but they likely won’t have as much impact on your blood pressure, heart health, or weight. And research shows that active dogs like border collies, golden retrievers, and beagles are the best choices to keep you moving.
But if your heart is set on a pocket pup go for it. ANY canine companion can help improve your heart health and your waistline. And before long, you may find yourself telling your doc you don’t need his blood pressure pills any longer.
Why not head on over to your local shelter today to fill your new fluffy high blood pressure prescription? Your best friend could be there right now, waiting for you.
She is an advocate of self-education and is passionate about the power of group knowledge sharing, like the kind found right here on HealthierTalk.com. Alice loves to share her views on holistic and natural healing as well as her, sometimes contentious, thoughts on the profit-driven inner workings of traditional medicine.
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