Heart Disease Less Likely For Fathers, Dog Owners

Heart Disease Less Common Among Dads

Heart disease risk is smaller among fathers compared to their counterparts who do not have children, a new study published in Human Reproduction showed Monday.

About 138,000 men were examined in the largest study of its kind conducted by the government, private universities and the AARP.

The heart disease link may be incidental but is also reasonable. Men who are able to have kids are generally thought to have genes strong enough to support a healthy heart.

According to Stanford University's Dr. Michael Eisenberg, the inability to father children says a lot about a man's health, including his risk of developing heart disease.

Aside from being dads, other studies have also shown that those who own dogs or are married are less likely to suffer from heart ailments. Having many friends or a strong social support can also make a huge difference.

For dads, it may mean that they have an extra incentive in taking better care of their health because of their kids. Thus, they tend to minimize their risk and go for healthy behaviors that limit heart disease.

Testosterone levels are also said to be key to becoming a father as shown by another study of 600 men in the Philippines. Men with higher levels have a greater chance of becoming dads and those with low levels may be hindering their capability to having kids.

Stress is also a major risk factor for heart conditions. But the U.S. study researchers said that they focused on more tangible factors of heart disease.

Posted by George Daniels on Tuesday September 27 2011, 3:14 AM EDT. Ref: AP. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0