Do the benefits of dog ownership on cardiovascular disease and diabetes extend to US military Veterans?

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

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By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. Jul 12 2023 Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.

A study published in Scientific Reports finds that dog ownership reduces the risk of cardiometabolic disease among US military veterans. Study: Dog ownership may promote cardiometabolic health in U.S. military veterans. Image Credit: MAKSYM CHUB/Shutterstock.com Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. PTSD has been found to associate with reduced cardiac contractility, cardiac ischemia, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Some lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, and lack of physical activity, are believed to increase cardiometabolic disease risk in individuals with PTSD.

Dog ownership is known to improve cardiac health in the general population. Evidence suggests that dog ownership might be considered as an alternative intervention for improving PTSD condition. A large-scale study on the Swedish population found an association between dog ownership and reduced cardiovascular mortality risk over a follow-up period of 12 years.

In the current study, scientists have explored the effect of dog or cat ownership on the risk of cardiometabolic disease among US military veterans. Study design

The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), which includes multiple online surveys, was initiated in 2011 to evaluate the association between psychological health and successful aging among US military veterans. Data from the most recent cohort (2019 – 2020) of the NHRVS was used in the current study.

A total of 4,069 veterans participated in the first survey in November 2019. The second survey, which included questions about dog and cat ownership, was conducted on 3,078 veterans in November 2020.

The presence of certain cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, heart attack, high cholesterol, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes, was assessed in the surveys. The presence of lifetime PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, nicotine use disorder, and substance use disorder were also assessed. Regarding lifestyle factors, the weekly frequency of physical exercise was assessed. Important observations

About 99% of survey participants responded about dog or cat ownership. Specifically, about 39% and 24% of participants responded affirmatively about dog and cat ownership, respectively.

The analysis of non-adjusted self-reported data revealed significantly lower prevalence of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol among dog owners compared to that among non-dog owners. However, no significant effect of cat ownership was observed on the prevalence of any cardiometabolic conditions. Related StoriesWas there a change in the incidence of diabetes in children and adolescents after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic?Ever-growing global diabetes burden exacerbated by large-scale inequityIs there an association between diabetes and breast cancer risk?

Dog owners were found to be younger than non-dog owners and were more likely to be female. A higher prevalence of tested psychological disorders and addictive behaviors was observed among dog owners compared to that among non-dog owners. In addition, dog owners were found to be more physically active than non-dog owners.

The analysis of self-reported data after adjustment for age, sex, trauma load, psychological disorders, addictive behaviors, and exercise revealed that dog ownership is significantly associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Considering participants’ physical exercise levels, the analysis revealed a reduction in heart disease risk with the induction of habitual exercise among dog owners. Moreover, dog owners showed a significantly lower risk of high blood pressure than non-dog owners, even with more lifetime traumatic events.

Considering the age of participants, the analysis revealed a higher risk of diabetes among dog owners over 80 years compared to age-matched non-dog owners. Similarly, a comparative higher risk of stroke was observed among dog owners aged over 70 years.

Among participants without nicotine use disorder, having a dog was found to reduce the risk of stroke. In contrast, an increased risk of stroke was observed among dog owners who had nicotine use disorder. Study significance

The study reveals that having a dog may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol among US military veterans. However, a negative impact of dog ownership on the risk of diabetes and stroke has been observed among older veterans and those with nicotine use disorder. Future studies are needed to establish these correlations more firmly.

Overall, the study highlights the benefits of having a dog in terms of reducing the risk of PTSD-related cardiometabolic disease. Journal reference: Woodward, S., Baldassarri, S. and Pietrzak, R. (2023) "Dog ownership may promote cardiometabolic health in U.S. military veterans", Scientific Reports, 13(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38038-4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-38038-4

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Follow live: Jets, Stars battle in Game 3 as series shifts to Dallas

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2 hours ago

May 11, 2025

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Jung hits HR for mom while facing brother Jace

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2025

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Jung hits HR for mom while facing brother Jace

Associated Press

May 11, 2025, 04:07 PM ET

DETROIT — Josh Jung delivered a special Mother’s Day gift to his mom, Mary.

The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning off Beau Brieske at Detroit on Sunday. Jung’s brother, Jace, was in the Tigers’ lineup at the same position.

Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field.

“My heart is just exploding,” Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. “I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift. We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first home run by a player facing his brother’s team on Mother’s Day since at least 1969.

The Jungs’ parents, Mary and Jeff, have been in attendance throughout the three-game series. The brothers also started Saturday when Texas recorded a 10-3 victory.

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Yankees’ Stroman has setback in rehab of knee

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2 hours ago

May 11, 2025

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Yankees' Stroman has setback in rehab of knee

Associated Press

May 11, 2025, 03:28 PM ET

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman had a setback as he tries to return from a left knee injury that has sidelined him for the past month.

Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Stroman still had “discomfort” in the knee after throwing a live batting practice session in Tampa, Florida, on Friday and will be reevaluated before the team figures out the next step in his rehabilitation process.

“He’s gotten a lot of treatments on it and stuff,” Boone said. “It just can’t kind of get over that final hump to really allow him to get to that next level on the mound. We’ll try and continue to get our arms around it and try and make sure we get that out of there.”

Stroman hasn’t pitched since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against the San Francisco Giants on April 11. He was placed on the 15-day injured list the next day with what Boone hoped at the time would be a short-term absence.

But there is no timeline for the right-hander’s return, and Boone said the injury likely impacted the way Stroman pitched before going on the IL. He was 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts.

“Certainly that last start, I think he just couldn’t really step on that front side like he needed to,” Boone said. “I talk about how these guys are like race cars, and one little thing off and it can affect just that last level of command or that last level of extra stuff that you need. So we’ll continue to try to get him where we need to.”

Stroman had surgery March 19, 2015, to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He returned to a major league mound that Sept. 12.

Stroman, 34, is in the second season of a two-year contract guaranteeing $37 million. His deal includes a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitches in at least 140 innings this year.

Last season, Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) when he threw 154⅔ innings, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.

In other injury news, DJ LeMahieu played for the second straight day on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday and could join the team in Seattle this week to make his season debut. LeMahieu had a cortisone injection last week in his right hip, dealing with an injury stemming from last year.