Health

Owning a Dog Could Help People Live Longer

27. National Poll On Healthy Aging Another study was used to examine the mental health benefits of owning a dog. It looked specifically at older individuals,… Trista Smith - December 31, 2019

Dogs have been man’s best friend since the beginning of time. The four-legged friends were domesticated first for utility purposes; over time, that evolved into keeping them around for companionship. Whatever the reason for keeping these canines around, it seems like it was the right call on our part.

Recent research has shown that dog owners tend to live a longer life, according to two separate studies. While the study does indicate that individuals with heart problems are the ones to benefit, further investigation may show more benefits lying unseen. These recent studies actually built off of earlier research that pointed to the same conclusion about these beloved pooches. Let us take a closer look at the discoveries produced by scientific research.

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1. 2013 AHA Scientific Statement

Now, this was the starting point of all research into the subject of whether or not dogs helped their owners live longer lives. The main takeaway point from this study was that dog ownership is associated with a reduction in factors that contribute to cardiac risk and cardiovascular events. This statement was generated from reviewing older research on the subject.

Since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, it is no wonder scientists are looking for natural ways that patients can protect their health. The biggest leading causes of heart problems are obesity and not getting enough exercise, which around 60% of Americans suffer from. Other factors, such as hypertension, are also not under control by most patients. Though interventions have been set into place, they do not seem to be doing much to combat cardiovascular disease efficiently.

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2. The Amazing Results

Thus, this research was conducted to find a way to help patients with heart problems control their condition. Protective factors seem to increase with the addition of a pet. The most obvious improvement is that individuals with dogs tend to increase their activity level, which, as was noted above, is one of the leading causes of heart issues.

Other improvements that were observed were favorable lipid profiles, better cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and a diminished response to stress. Let the record show that research has shown that owning any pet lowers anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social isolation.

Caring for a pet might have health benefits for your heart. Shutterstock

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3. More Studies About Owning Pets

The study currently under question took a look at two separate reviews to see what conclusions they could draw. It seems that both studies show that pet ownership reduces the risk of death due to cardiac issues. It should be noted here that while the studies cannot outright prove that dogs protect against heart disease, the studies highly suggest some protective factors offered by pets. It should be comforting to know that around 3 million people were observed for this study so that the results can be heavily relied upon.

The focus of cardiovascular research has focused on how isolation and lack of exercise have contributed to mortality. This concept caused researchers to focus on these areas in the current study because previous research showed that dog ownership decreased social isolation while increasing physical activities. It led scientists to believe that owning a dog could have better outcomes for cardiovascular patients as opposed to those who do not suffer heart problems.

Patient files were examined to find a correlation. Shutterstock

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4. Swedish National Patient Registry

This study looked at many individuals: 182,000 of them reported having had a heart attack while 155,000 declared having had a stroke. Of the heart attack victims, around 6% owned dogs, while 5% of the stroke victims owned a pet. The subjects were monitored for 11 years. Patients were aged 40 to 85 years old. Pet ownership was determined by programs that mandate reporting of individuals with dogs (the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Kennel Club).

The results were in favor of owning a pet: after suffering a heart attack, those who lived alone were around 30% more likely to die during the follow-up period than those who owned a pet and also suffered a heart attack. For those who had suffered a stroke, patients were 27% more likely to perish if they did not own a pet. The study then examined whether the individuals who passed on within an average of four years after their cardiovascular event were dog owners or not. What they found shouldn’t surprise you: 20% of dog owners were less likely to pass away after a heart attack while 18% were less likely to die after a stroke compared to the non-owners.

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5. The Truth About Companionship

The Swedish National Patient Registry study also looked at whether or not having a partner, or a child would affect the cardiovascular health of patients. It showed that if patients did not live alone, they had around a 15% lower risk of death due to a heart attack compared to the 30% if patients lived alone after a cardiovascular event. If patients suffered a stroke and had a family, their risk was decreased by 12%.

The conclusion was simple: it seems that owning a dog decreases the risk factors for developing cardiovascular issues and having subsequent heart attacks or strokes. As has been noted before, owning a dog naturally increases physical activity, which is one of the best ways to combat heart problems. Owning a dog is also known to decrease loneliness and isolation, other leading causes of poor heart health. Dogs force people to get out and socialize, which is an integral part of being healthy.

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6. Caring for a Pet Really Can Help

Given the results of this study, pet adoption should start being recommended by doctors to their patients to help prevent further complications from arising. If patients live alone and have had previous heart attacks or strokes, having a dog will add loads of benefits without adding any harm.

This study did a great job of controlling for confounding factors. They took into account age, gender, income, and previous history of cardiovascular events. However, more research is needed to confirm the relationship between dog ownership and survival.

The University of Toronto has studied heart issues concerning pet ownership. Shutterstock

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7. Kramer’s Team

Dr. Caroline K. Kramer is from the University of Toronto and took it upon herself to study the effects of pet ownership has on the health of those with cardiovascular issues. She decided to go as far back as 1950 and looked at studies that included over 3 million patients over ten studies. Of the studies examined, nine included comparisons of all-cause mortality outcomes for dog owners as well as non-owners and four compared just cardiovascular results between dog owners and non-owners. The study looked at individuals in the United States as well as seven other developed countries.

Kramer found that patients were around 20% less likely to die over the next decade if they were to own a dog. If, however, the person in question were to have suffered a cardiovascular event, they were 65% less likely to die if they had a dog by their side.

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8. The Research Tells the Tale of the Tail

Overall mortality due to heart attacks and other cardiovascular events were decreased by 30% by merely owning a dog. She also noted that increased physical activity played a significant role in the patient’s cardiovascular health.

Studies that were deemed appropriate for research included those who observed individuals 18 years or older, those who included original data from a prospective study, those that evaluated dog ownership at the outset of the study, and those that reported all-cause or cardiovascular mortality of patients. Studies that were not included were those that were retrospective in nature, those that did not provide an absolute number of events that occurred, and those that reported non-fatal cardiovascular events.

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9. Systemic Hypertension

Most studies have shown that those people who own dogs have lower blood pressure. Specifically, an Australian study discovered that dog owners have significantly lower systolic blood pressure compared to non-owners despite similar body mass index and socioeconomic circumstances. In another study looking at married couples without pets, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were lower in those who owned a pet, whether it be a dog or a cat.

There have also been studies conducted online to get an idea of how dog ownership protects those with cardiovascular issues. These studies are all based on self-reporting: it was found that non-owners reported significantly higher hypertension than those who had an animal at home. A large study looking at almost 1200 people showed they have lower pulse pressure and a lower mean arterial pressure.

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10. Pets Can Help with Hypertension

There was another randomized study done with individuals who were borderline hypertension. In this instance, participants were randomly assigned to groups: one group adopted dogs from a shelter, and the other group did not. Before the study began, everyone was asked to have their blood pressure taken. It seems that the baseline for everyone at the outset of the study was similar.

With time (at two and five months after the investigation started), blood pressures were taken from both groups. At both intervals, it was found that those who were put into the group of dog adoption had significantly lower systolic blood pressure than those who opted out of dog adoption. Interestingly enough, at an even later follow-up date, after all of the participants in both groups had adopted a dog, everyone involved had similarly lower systolic blood pressure.

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11. Hyperlipidemia

All this fancy word means is that a person’s blood contains more lipids than it should. Sadly, there is little evidence out there for the effects dog ownership has on lipid levels in the body. In one particular study, male dog owners were found to have significantly lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those who did not own a dog.

Again, we have some online studies to examine. It seems in this particular study, non-owners were more likely to report elevated serum cholesterol levels and diabetes mellitus than those who did own a dog and regularly walked them. These findings remained valid after accounting for the owner’s age and the intensity of physical activity. Another interesting finding from this study was that tobacco use was more common among those that did not own a dog versus those that did.

Having a pet increases your physical activity and keeps you healthy. Shutterstock

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12. Physical Activity Associated with Dog Ownership

Of all animals that can help provide physical activity, dogs seem to be the best motivators. Several studies support the fact that dog owners engage in more physical activity, such as walking compared to those that are dog-less. Dog owners quickly achieve the recommended amount of physical activity in a day: non-owners typically do not.

One particular study looked at Japanese adults: after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic circumstances, dog owners were found to be more physically engaged in walking and other physical activities compared to those that did not have a dog at home. About half of the Japanese dog owners met the recommended level of physical activity per day compared to Japanese non-owners.

Like the Japanese study, an Australian study was also conducted to look at the physical activity levels of those who owned dogs and those who did not. This study also controlled for the sociodemographic, neighborhood, social environment, and other intrapersonal factors. This study found that dog owners participated in significantly more physical activity (measured in minutes) per week compared to those who wished not to own a dog.

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13. Similar Results from All Over the World

Here comes a Canadian study! This one found that dog owners participate in around 300 minutes per week walking compared to 168 minutes for non-owners. It seems that having a dog alone is what accounts for so much extra exercise.

Moving to the States, another study was undertaken by the California Health Interview Survey. This study also controlled for factors such as sociodemographic, health, and housing characteristics. The one significant finding from this study is that dog owners walked around 20 minutes more per week than those who never owned a dog. Sadly, no other research has shown that having different types of animals increases your physical activity. It seems that because walking a dog is part of their upkeep, it almost forces dog owners to be more active by nature than those who either own no pets or own less active pets.

More physical activity with your pup means a better heart rate. Shutterstock

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14. News from Down Under About Owning Dogs

Studies have also looked at whether activity levels change after a pet has been acquired. Several studies have shown that, after adopting a dog or a cat from an animal shelter, participants have shown a marked and sustained increase in the number and duration of recreational walks but found no change amongst those who did not adopt an animal from the shelter.

An Australian study undertaken by the Residential Environments project discovered that participants reported an increase in recreational walking if they owned a dog: walking increased by an average of about 25 minutes per week. The biggest reason for the increase in walking? Dogs seem to have a positive effect on how owners view walking as well as provide motivation and social support that non-owners do not benefit from these things.

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15. Obesity Related to Dog Ownership

As we have just discussed, physical activity is one way that pet owners can prevent and decrease the incidence of obesity. The other component, also only touched upon, is the social support that comes with owning a dog. Surprisingly enough, social support is one of the leading factors that contribute to pet adoption and behavioral changes, which includes weight loss. Having a dog has the motivating power to get people out of the house and moving because they know that this is best for their pets. Many pet owners have reported feeling safer in their neighborhoods, having a dog to walk with them.

While dog ownership alone does not account for a decrease in obesity, dog walking does! A study looking at around 2200 people found that BMI scores were lowest amongst dog walkers compared to both owners who did not walk their dogs and non-owners. Those who walked their dogs also seemed to have no problem meeting the daily recommendations for vigorous physical activity.

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16. Walking Your Dog Can Help You Lose Weight

Another study showed that people who did not own a dog had a two-fold higher odds of having weight issues, and those who did not walk their dogs had a 60% higher odds of being overweight compared to dog owners who took the time to walk their pet every day. In a study of younger children, the rate of obesity or being overweight seemed to be predictably lower among those families that owned a dog compared to a family who did not own a dog.

Yet another study was undertaken by the People and Pets Exercising Together (PPET) review. This study was trying to determine if people who walked their dogs lose more weight over one year compared to people who walk by themselves. Pairs of individuals who were obese and also had overweight pets and obese people without pets were under controlled study for a year. The participants were given dietary and physical activity instructions, and pets were placed on a calorie-controlled diet. Although they were hoping for a better outcome, it seems that both groups experienced similar weight loss.

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17. Autonomic Function and Cardiovascular Reactivity

The autonomic nervous system is tightly related to the heart: it helps to control heart rate as well as many other functions. Cardiovascular reactivity is a more complicated concept. This term refers to the difference in heart rate, blood pressure, and a slew of other indicators of heart health between periods of rest and periods of stress. Changes are often observed in heart rate and systolic blood pressure.

Cardiovascular reactivity to stress was tested in 240 couples; half of the participants owned either a cat or a dog. People with pets exhibited lower resting baseline heart rates and blood pressure as compared to non-owners. Pet owners also showed smaller increases in heart rate and blood pressure in response to stress and took a shorter amount of time to recover and return to their baseline after being exposed to a stressor. An exciting discovery was that recovery time was even faster if pet owners had their pets with them during the test; the overall reaction to stress was also lower if the animals were present.

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18. Can Owning a Dog Help Reduce Your Stress?

Another study looked at cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress. A total of 48 hypertensive patients with high-stress jobs who wished to decrease their daily stress participated in the study. Individuals were randomly assigned into two groups: a pet adoption group or a non-adoption group. Physiological responses to stress were recorded before pets were acquired, and six months after pet adoption. When testing was done, pets were present for those who owned them. Although the baseline of stress responses was similar between owners and non-owners, pet owners had smaller increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma renin activity after six months of pet ownership.

This study measured heart rate variability with 24-hour Holter monitors to look at autonomic function. It was found that individuals with at least one cardiac risk factor and who owned a pet (either a cat or a dog) had an increase in parasympathetic nervous system function and a decrease in sympathetic nervous system activities. This highlights the effect had a pet has on the way the body handles stress; this shows that pet owners are more adaptable to changes in the cardiovascular system.

Caring for a pet can boost your heart health and, in turn, help prevent a heart attack. Shutterstock

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19. Does Caring for a Pet Lower the Risk of a Heart Attack?

Another study looked at patients who had just suffered a heart attack. The study showed that those who did own a pet, whether it was a dog or a cat, had a higher rate of heart rate variability compared to non-owners. These findings have been associated with decreased cardiac death among patients.

It is worth making a note here about pet ownership. Although most of the studies discussed so far included only cats and dogs, research has shown that the same benefits apply to those who own other pets, including goats, snakes, fish, and chimpanzees. Virtual pets also seem to have some protective effect.

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20. Cardiovascular Disease and Dog Ownership

Cardiovascular disease encompasses many issues regarding the heart. It refers to conditions that narrow or block blood vessels that can then lead to a heart attack, chest pain, or stroke. It seems that pets may offer protective factors for those who suffer from CVD. It was shown in a study performed by the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial that survival after a cardiovascular event was highly associated with owning a pet. Dog ownership correctly was shown to decrease mortality, with mortality for non-owners being four times more likely after an incident involving the heart. Sadly, cat owners did not receive the same benefits.

Another study looked at patients a year after suffering from either a heart attack or chest pain. It showed that pet owners survived more often than those who did not own a pet. The finding was independent of the patient’s age and severity of the cardiovascular disease. It seems that a lack of pet ownership can be predictive of mortality for those who suffer heart issues.

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21. Who is Keith C. Ferdinand?

This professor at the Tulane University School of Medicine reported some interesting facts after these findings were announced. He declared that women are about ten times more likely than men to die from a heart attack or a stroke than they are from breast cancer. It would seem, then, that women have more to benefit from owning a dog than men do. The furry friends not only help with the physical side of things; they also help alleviate mental health issues as well. Dogs assist owners with managing stress, increasing activity, and decreasing isolation and loneliness.

He also noted that walking a dog 20 to 30 minutes a day will help individuals meet the weekly recommended activity level of 150 minutes of moderate exercise. Sadly, Ferdinand was not included in this latest study. He did warn against blindly following the results produced by these recent studies. He noted that dogs alone could not overcome the risk factors associated with the heart, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. He says the best combination for helping those with cardiovascular problems is to have an active dog and to work against cardiovascular risk factors actively.

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22. Research by Dhruv Kazi

A cardiologist from Israel Deaconess Medical Center also had a few words to say about the findings just published. He believes that mental health benefits should not be overlooked: he reiterates that dogs alleviate anxiety and loneliness while increasing self-esteem and overall mood. He even mentions a finding unearthed by the 2018 General Social Survey, which determined that dog owners were significantly happier than cat owners.

Over and over again we have seen how having a dog increases physical activity–this is just common sense. But Kazi brings up other good points. Dog owners spend significantly more time outdoors than those who do not have a dog; spending time outside for whatever reason has been found to benefit your overall health. He notes that even merely petting a dog can decrease a person’s blood pressure; however, the benefits seem only to come about if the dog is familiar to you.

Having a pet can help you lose weight and reduce many health ailments. Shutterstock

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23. Owning a Dog Boosts Longevity

The current literature does not entirely convince Kazi. He believes that the confounding factors of the individuals should have been accounted for. Kazi stated that dog owners tend to be younger, have more money, have more education, and are typically married. All of these factors tend to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

The results could have occurred since healthier people are more likely to adopt or purchase a pup compared to more impoverished and less fit individuals. Kazi also brings up the idea of reverse causation: the concept that healthier people are more likely to adopt a pet compared to someone who is always ill. Despite his reservations about the studies, he does believe that there is some truth to the connection between dog ownership and survival.

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24. Randomized Controlled Studies

These studies involve at least two groups of participants: in this case, those who are forced to adopt a dog and those that are not. One study in this category placed cardiac patients in either a pet adoption group or a non-owner group; the group that adopted a dog or a cat showed a decrease in blood pressure response due to a stressful event.

Another small study taken place in Korea randomly assigned nursing home residents to pet crickets and asked them to take care of the insect for a minimum of eight weeks. After this time, the insect caring group exhibited significant improvements in depression and cognitive ability compared to the group that did not care for crickets.

Results look promising, but they’re not always reliable. Shutterstock

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25. Limitations with Dog Ownership

While the results from the Canadian and Swedish studies seem promising, we have to consider the boundaries of the studies used to produce such results. In particular, these results came about from observational studies, which is simply observing what is already naturally occurring. This idea means that these studies alone cannot be used to determine that dog ownership ensures survival.

It may be possible that other factors contributed to the health of the individuals under review. While these studies did account for some confounding factors, it was not possible to predict and control for all of them.

Much medical research takes places that Mayo Clinic. Shutterstock

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26. An Important Mayo Clinic Study About Dog Ownership

This Mayo Clinic study looked at a total of 1800 individuals to determine what benefits dogs have for patients with cardiovascular problems. It found that those who owned a dog were more likely to engage in healthier lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise and eating healthy.

These individuals also had more favorable blood sugar levels compared to those who did not own a canine. The two may or may not be related, but the results of this particular test did reveal that owning a dog can help with many health ailments including blood sugar levels.

Just having a friend, even if they can’t talk, can improve your health. Shutterstock

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27. National Poll On Healthy Aging

Another study was used to examine the mental health benefits of owning a dog. It looked specifically at older individuals, at a total of 2,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 80. More than half of participants owned pets; of those who owned pets, around 80% reported that their companions helped reduce their stress level. Pet owners who claimed to live alone and to be in poor health benefited as well: 70% of them stated that their animals helped them cope with both mental and physical symptoms.

Be warned though: pets, dogs especially, are hard work, and their care should not be taken lightly. Elderly individuals should only consider a dog if they are physically capable of keeping up with the demands of the pet.

Fitness

Walking Too Slow May Cause People to Age Faster

With ailments taking a toll on your health and making you incapable of doing your typical chores, it has become more than essential to prioritize your… Trista Smith - December 31, 2019

With ailments taking a toll on your health and making you incapable of doing your typical chores, it has become more than essential to prioritize your well-being. A busy schedule mixed with everyday life means people often forget to look after their health. For instance, relying on a junk food diet can increase the chances of diabetes, obesity, cholesterol, and whatnot. Hence, it is essential to follow a nutritional diet that provides your body with the required nutrients and minerals to sustain the body’s functionality.

Along with maintaining a healthy diet, it is also essential to remain physically active. Yes, physical inactivity results in several muscle deformities, fat accumulation, cardiovascular diseases, and more. It doesn’t take much time to engage in activities that involve muscle movement.

Walking is one of the practical and less strenuous ways to enhance your overall health. Yes, you heard it right walking for just 30 minutes every day will provide your body with multiple health benefits. From cardiovascular fitness, reduced body fat boosted muscle power to strengthened bones, and walking can give you what diet alone cannot. If you stay true to your walking regimen, then you can even reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, cancers, and every severe ailment that is directly linked to your physical activity.

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1. Walking Compared to Other Forms of Exercise

Unlike the other rigorous forms of exercises that require additional strength and power, walking is easy and comforting. Walking doesn’t make you feel like you are engaging in a vigorous exercising routine. Just a 30 minutes walk every day can give you a multitude of benefits. There’s no doubt in asserting that walking requires minimal effort and any additional equipment, it can be done anywhere and anytime. You can go out and walk on the lawn or roads. It doesn’t need to be a strict plan or schedule of walking; you can take out little time or divide that time throughout the day and take short walks.

If you are not getting the right motivation to walk alone, you can join clubs and make groups for your walking endeavors. You can set walking goals with your pals that will keep you competitive and motivated about your walking regimen. If you are not yet convinced of the significance of walking in your life, then take a look at the health benefits of walking.

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2. Improve Your Heart Health

You probably did not realize it, but walking can actually improve your heart health. Yes, just walking! Even scientists and health experts claim that walking is the ideal exercise for sedentary people.

It helps in reducing the risks of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. Walking increases blood circulation, and that keeps your heart functioning. Hence, walking is closely related to minimizing the risk of heart strokes and other heart-related diseases.

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3. Help with Weight Loss

Weight gain has become a grave concern for many people. Unhealthy diets are to be blamed for weight gain issues. Don’t worry; you have a seamless solution for this.

Walking daily is a great and effortless way to shed some extra pounds on your body. American scientists have even conducted a study where they made some obese people walk in and around the city. After eight weeks, more than 50% of people lost an average of five pounds.

Your blood pressure will be in control if you will walk regularly. Shutterstock

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4. Keep Your Blood Pressure At Check

Walking is directly related to blood pressure. Studies and research have proven that walking can improve the management of hypertension to a great extent.

Research from Japan experimented on individuals suffering from mild hypertension where they were asked to walk 10,000 steps per day for 12 weeks. By the end of 12 weeks, there were significant improvements in their blood pressure and stamina.

Walking reduces cancer risks as well. Shutterstock

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5. Reduce Cancer Risks

Cancer is a life-threatening disease, and it claims over a million lives. A sedentary lifestyle and absence of physical activity can lead to several forms of cancer. That’s where walking can come to rescue your life.

As walking helps reduce weight, it eventually reduces the risks of cancer as well. Furthermore, walking is also proven to be beneficial to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in people who are undergoing cancer treatments.

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6. Improve Circulation

Walking naturally increases your blood flow and supply your brain with oxygen and glucose. Oxygen and glucose help in brain functions and eventually improve your overall health.

Walking is also proven to reduce the LDL cholesterol level that can block your arteries and lead to heart strokes. So, walking every day without any efforts will improve your blood circulation and brain cellular functions.

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7. Steer You Clear From Diabetes

As mentioned earlier, diabetes and weight gain are some of the common and grave health concerns of today. Walking can also help you control the blood sugar levels that eventually prevent type 2 diabetes.

Even if you are in your twenties or thirties, walking now can set you up for a healthier future. Go ahead and enjoy a fast stroll around the mall! Your older self will thank you 20 to 30 years from now.

Walking makes your bones and body stronger. Shutterstock

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8. Empower Your Bones

Bone health is essential to take care of. Bones tend to become weak with your age. But, you can strengthen them with the help of walking regularly. Walking is also proven to improve bone density or at least prevent its loss.

Bones create the framework of our body; hence, walking will determine our posture, stamina, and balance. Arthritis, one of the significant bone-related diseases, can also be cured with the help of regular walking.

Your digestion is also improved with walking. Shutterstock

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9. Improve Your Digestion

Your gut health is also connected to your walking routine. Gastrointestinal diseases such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and colon cancer as well can be treated by following a regular walking regimen.

Along with maintaining a healthy diet and drinking habits, you should also prioritize walking to improve your digestion. Walking after meals is a great way to trigger the digestion process.

It boosts your immunity and ultimately fights various diseases. Shutterstock

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10. Boost Immunity

Our immune system helps in keeping us clear from all possible conditions. It creates a protective shield for our body and safeguards it from external attacks. Walking boosts your immunity like nothing else.

A 30 minutes’ walk every day will promote the activities of your immune cells. Walking releases WBCs rapidly, allowing your body to heal quickly. If you are sick often, maybe you should try walking more often, after you feel better.

Walking also prevents mental illnesses. Shutterstock

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11. Safeguard Yourself from Dementia

Along with physical ailments, walking can also prevent some mental illnesses, as well. Dementia is one such neurological condition wherein your memory gradually starts losing your memory.

It can lead to difficulty in performing day-to-day activities and total dependence on others. Walking helps in stimulating your brain, and walking at a moderate pace will help in preventing dementia in the long run. It also helps in enhancing your memory and increasing cognitive thinking.

Walking helps in increasing the oxygen intake. Shutterstock

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12. Expand Lung Capacity

Lung capacity also determines your health. Walking helps in increasing oxygen intake. When you walk, your lungs tend to inhale more oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

This consumption and release of oxygen and carbon dioxide on a larger scale helps in increasing your lung capacity. Increased lung capacity increases your stamina and exercise strength. A 60-minute walk at a medium pace will do the right thing.

Walking helps in producing Vitamin D in the body too. Shutterstock

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13. Produce Vitamin D

Our body has vitamin D substances that are triggered when the sun’s UV rays fall on our bodies. Hence, walking in the morning is considered excellent to produce vitamin D in our body.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient to strengthen muscle and bone health. It also reduces the risk of cancer, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. So, you must expose your body to the sun for at least 10-15 minutes, and walking is a great way to do that.

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14. Decrease Stress

Walking helps improve circulation which eventually helps in reducing the stress level. It provides your body with essential nutrients and supplies oxygen to the cells, which helps in taming down the stress.

Walking stimulates the nervous system receptors and reduces the generation of stress hormones. When you walk, the inhalation and exhalation tend to ease out the tension that you cannot dampen otherwise.

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15. Improve Mood

There’s nothing better than starting your day with a brisk walk and watching the sunrise. Scientists have proven that physical activity in any form help in reducing the risk of depression.

Walking is considered the scientific way to uplift your mood and provide a fresh start to your day. It helps in rejuvenating your senses and steering clear from stress, depression, and every other mental discomfort. All you need to do to make your mood right is take a walk in the fresh air.

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16. Enhance Memory

As mentioned earlier, walking is closely related to brain functions. Walking can help to supply oxygen to your brain cells and enhances brain functions. Japanese scientists claim that walking can fine-tune the memory of older people.

Physical activity helps in keeping your brain and body functioning that also helps in improving your memory. A 30 minutes’ walk every day can be a real memory booster for you.

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17. Heighten Productivity

When you start your day with lethargy, you cannot go about the day and do the everyday chores with energy. Instead, if you kick start your day with a morning walk, your body will be boosted with energy and enthusiasm, making you productive throughout the day.

A sedentary lifestyle can never contribute to efficiency and productivity in your life. Be it your work, home, or school; you need to bring the enthusiasm to lead your day. Walking is such an effective way to bring significant changes in your lifestyle and brim it with energy.

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18. Stimulate Creativity

Your creativity is closely related to your walking regimen. Walking helps in taming down your nervous system and relaxes brain muscles. When you walk, you are not bound by any tension or stress; you can embrace nature and breathe the fresh air, which in turn, rewards your brain with creativity.

Walking helps enhances your analytical thinking and improve your creativity. So, if you want to give your creativity a little boost, then take a walkout.

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19. Gain Social Support

If you think walking only has miraculous benefits on your physical and mental well-being, then there’s more to the benefits of walking. It helps in expanding your social interactions. When you start walking, you tend to make walking buddies and increase your social circle.

Every day you will look forward to interacting with them and sharing your experience. Having a social group will also help in achieving your walking much faster.

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20. Ease Your Joint Pain

Joint pains are common. Though there are many ways through which you can ease your joint pains, such as therapies and medications, the most effective and less strenuous method is to remain physically active.

Walking will help you strengthen your joints by increasing its flexibility. When your joints become flexible, the chances of joint pain will be less. Lack of friction is something that gives rise to joint pains, and walking lubricates your joints to strengthen the muscles and support joints.

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21. Tone Your Legs

If you are working hard to make your legs look slim and lean, then walking can do the tricks. Walking strengthens your leg muscles. Start walking every day to make your legs look more toned than ever.

For better results, try walking with more strength, like taking a walk in the hilly area or walk on the treadmill. Taking the stairs instead of the lift is also an excellent option for toning your leg muscles.

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22. Slow the Aging Process

Can walking make you age slower? Harvard graduated were involved in a study where it was proven that those who walked 30 minutes’ a day tend to live longer than the ones who had a sedentary lifestyle. Walking may or not help in activating the telomerase enzyme that is maintain the DNA integrity responsible for aging.

Many age-related problems can be prevented by following a regular walking regime. If you think your age is taking a toll on your life and restricting to do things that you used to do easily, then it’s time to take charge of your life and start walking every day and bring a positive change in your life.

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23. Walking and Aging Go Hand in Hand

You might find it bizarre, but your walking is closely related to your aging process. From the above benefits of walking, those who walk regularly tend to age more slowly and live a physically active life. Your walking intensity also determines the frequency of your aging.

There has been plenty of research and studies conducted on the relationship between age and walking. It has been found that the more you walk, the slower you age, and he slows your walk, the more you age. Older people are largely benefited with walking, as it helps them in bringing active and brimming with energy at their senior age. Your walking intensity indeed determines the way you age. Before understanding that slow walking accelerates your aging, it is important to assess the goodness of walking when start aging.

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24. Do Your Body a Favor

Aging can make your muscles and joints weaker. Walking will keep your joints flexible and muscles strengthened. Memory loss and lack of concentration are common when you start aging. At a certain age, you tend to witness such brain-related issues, and walking can be an effective solution for all that. Walking pumps oxygen into your brain, enhancing its function.

Diabetes and cholesterol come with age. Both are concerning issues in older people. The more you age, the more you will be exposed to these issues. Walking will help you steer clear from such diseases as it is considered a great way to control your blood sugar levels.

Sitting around might be relaxing, but it is not doing your body any favors. Shutterstock

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25. Avoid a Sedentary Lifestyle

With age come many physical ailments. Your bones and muscles tend to become weak and create balance issues. Walking allows you to strengthen the bones and acquire the right posture and balance of the body.

Walking is also looked like a practical approach to reduce stress and depression that come with age. Older people tend to develop a sedentary lifestyle due to their incapability to do things that they used to do at a younger age. Walking can bring significant changes in your lifestyle by making it your go-to physical activity.

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26. Slow Walking Is Equal to Fast Aging

There’s no doubt in asserting that walking is a great way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. But, you are walking style determines the way you age. If you walk at a slower pace in your forties, you might age faster than you think. A recent study has sprouted this belief. The study found that your walking speed in your forties indicates your neurological aging.

There have been several previous studies and research as well that stated the link between gait health and aging. But, a recent survey of JAMA Network Open found that at the age of 45, your walking speed determined the frequency of your aging.

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27. Can Walking During Your Middle Age Help?

Midlife is one of the significant phases of your aging that brings you close to more physical and mental illness. It depends on your lifestyle and physical activity that determines the intensity of your aging. Midlife is a phase when you are between the age of 45-50 years. Walking speed is a major indicator of your lifespan and health.

The researchers studied the walking patterns of the participants. They kept track of their performance, general health, and behavior at different age group people, starting from the age of 3. Neurologists assessed their performance and intelligence. The researchers accessed their emotional, receptive language, motor skills, and behavioral regulation. With all the data acquired regarding their speed, memory, verbal comprehension, reasoning, and more, they concluded.

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28. The Results of the Evaluation Tell It All

Their performance was evaluated on many grounds to conclude that age determines the way you age. It was found that people who stroll at the age of 45 were seen to have accelerated aging. To find evidence of accelerated aging, researchers looked into several biomarkers such as blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, cholesterol, blood urea level, blood cell count, and so on. They also used MRI scans to evaluate brain health, as well. The MRI scans proved that people in their forties have a smaller brain volume and cortical areas. In layman’s terms, it was found that brains started to age faster than the biological age.

Researches many evident signs of fast aging in the participants who were in their forties. Cardiorespiratory health, immune system, gum, and teeth health and gut health of the people of walked slowly were worse than the ones who walked faster. A significant concern is that it’s affecting people in their forties. It was quite evident that people in their 70s and 80s with slow walking tend to die sooner than the ones who walk faster at the same age. But, it was shocking to find that it has started affecting people in their forties.

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29. Research Builds a Link Between Walking Slower and Aging Faster

Researchers have full proof of evidence that states that slow walking is one of the deciding factors for your fast aging. From cardiovascular health to your gum health, everything tends to witness some signs of aging that can bring significant changes to your health. More rapid aging during the forties can lead to several physical and mental illnesses.

From difficulty in doing your daily chores and the inability to concentrate on things, there are plenty of discomforts that can be faced during this age. It is essential to make sure that your walking frequency gradually supports your aging process well. If you have started walking already, you need to increase the pace to enjoy its benefits the most and reduce the risks of faster aging.

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30. Signs of Aging

There are plenty of signs that state that you are aging faster than you should, and you should never ignore such warnings. It generates a set of concerns about early death, cardiovascular diseases, heart strokes, cancer, and more.

At the age of 40, your body tends to undergo several changes that bring you closer to the aging, but there are some factors like slow walking that can contribute to your faster aging. Please take a look at some of those evident signs of early aging and remain vigilant about them.

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31. Your Favorite Pants Won’t Fit

Are you struggling to slip in your pants that once glided smoothly through your legs? If yes, then you are aging, my dear. It probably is not due to eating habits alone. Weight gain is common as you age.

Your muscles contract and reflex with age. When you start aging, your muscles begin to expand. It does not generally mean that you are putting on weight, you might have a lean body yet find it challenging to fit in your pants.

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32. You Are Running Out of Body Lotions

You might wear lotion on a regular basis, but do you notice a lack in your supply lately? Skin dryness is common, but when it starts becoming ultra-dry, and you have to keep them nourished forever, then it is a sign of early aging.

When your body starts aging, your skin tends to lose its ability to create the proteins and fats that keep young. So, if you are going through such extensive dryness issues, then you are possibly aging.

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33. You Sleep Like a Baby – Not in a Good Way

All of the parents out there were dreading this one because they are still trying to catch up on sleep. A baby’s sleep is never regular, and they tend to wake up now and then and find it difficult to go back to sleep again. If you have been sleeping like a baby lately, then there are chances that you have started aging.

Insomnia and other sleep-related problems can be a sign that your body is giving regarding the aging process. This generally occurs due to the high level of cortisol in your body.

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34. Your Face is Sunken or Grunted

This item is an obvious sign to someone who hasn’t visited you in a while. But to yourself, it might not be as noticeable. When you start aging, your face is the first to witness the changes. Apart from the evident signs like wrinkles and fine lines, your face also starts looking sunken.

Bone loss is a part of aging that causes the change in your face shape. Sunken lips, thin lips, and evident temples are some of the common signs on your face that shows you are pretty fast.

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35. People Say You Don’t Look Like Your Age

While people say you look younger than your age can be taken as a compliment but looking older than your age is something you feel embarrassed about. It might be your makeup, hair, or overall style, but it might be your skin.

If you have been hearing the latter from people for quite some time, then you are probably going through the aging process. Looking older than your biological age is one of the evident signs of aging, and this is something you cannot control or hide.

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36. You Are Falling Behind With Your Social Group

This item might seem a bit vague, but it could apply to both a physical issue as well as a mental or emotional one. Do you find it challenging to catch up with your friends on a walkout? If yes, then you must be in your aging process.

Lack of energy and lethargy are common signs of aging. Feeling exhausted and instances of fatigue are the regular issues you might face when you are aging faster than you should be.

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37. Enjoy Your Days Walking

Walking is one of those practical exercises that does not require any additional strength or power to perform. You can go out in the morning, breathe the fresh air, and bring the goodness of walking to your life. There are multiple benefits of walking regularly. Walking is proven to provide several physical and mental health benefits to the people who follow it typically.

From improving your heart health to strengthening your bones, walking can do things to your body beyond what you can think. You might be hitting the gym and sweating your body to make yourself physically active and steer clear from the ailments, but a 30 minutes’ walk every day can bring changes to your life that your diet and gym routine alone can never achieve. It is essential to make walking a part of your exercise regimen if you are looking for a less strenuous workout routine that gives the desired health benefits at the same time.

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38. Please Go For a Stroll

You must have gone through the health benefits of walking every day and have realized how important it is to prioritize your walking regimen. As mentioned, walking and aging are closely related, and it depends on you how you want to age after the age of forty.

A study has found that people who walk slowly in their forties are more likely to age faster than the ones who walk more quickly. Researchers have found the right evidence to prove the scenario. They conducted a study and evaluated the participants on several parameters, only to find that people in their forties walking slowly is a significant indicator of fast aging. They have presented evidence that supports their findings. From their gut to gum health, everything starts to change when they walk slowly.

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39. The Bottom Line About Slow Walking

Slow walking is equal to no walking. You start walking to bring positive changes in your physical and mental health. Walking slowly can never get you the benefits you want. It is one of the practical exercises that can treat your body like nothing else.

Hence, it is crucial to remain true to your walking regimen to bring positive changes. It is quite evident that slow walking leads to fast aging because after a certain age, your muscles, bones, and cells start to weaken, and it requires a stimulating rejuvenation that comes with physical activity.

Working out regularly can reduce the risk of diabetes in middle-aged and older people. Shutterstock.

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40. Just Give Walking a Try – You Will Notice the Difference

Walking slowly will bring no good to your health. Instead, it will make you age faster than you should. There are plenty of aging signs and symptoms that state our aging process is quite faster than the conventional rate. Never ignore such warnings and always remain vigilant about such changes, so that you can take charge of your health before things get worse.

If you understand the benefits of walking and want to enjoy them the most, then increase your walking pace at regular intervals. You can also use a treadmill to improve your walking pace. It is also advised to create a walking group because people tend to perform well when they are in a group. You can set group goals so that you can keep yourself motivated always. When it comes to your health, you should never ignore what your body tells you.

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