Pets ‘could help reduce heart disease risk’

Owning a pet could be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

The report highlighted the fact that pet owners tend to experience reduced heart disease risk factors and increased survival rates compared to others, with a particularly strong link seen among dog owners.

It has been shown that having a domestic animal is associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and a lower incidence of obesity, while also improving the body's reaction to stress.

However, it is not known whether this relationship is causative, or simply due to the fact that healthier people are more likely to own pets.

Dr Glenn Levine, professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said: "What's less clear is whether the act of adopting or acquiring a pet could lead to a reduction in cardiovascular risk in those with pre-existing disease. Further research … is needed to more definitively answer this question."

NHS figures show that coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, causing around 82,000 deaths each year.