AND FINALLY WE ❤ DOGS IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES A four-legged companion is great for company and also for your health, particularly your heart. Having a dog in the home substantially reduces the risk of heart attacks and other heart conditions, a major study has shown. Researchers found that dog ownership had a dramatic effect on people who live alone, reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 36%. In larger households with more people under one roof, dogs had less of a positive effect, but lowered deaths from heart disease by 15%. The findings come from a study of more than 3.4 million people in Sweden. Those who took part were 40-80 years old and were followed for up to 12 years. Just over 13% had pet dogs. www.athomemagazine.co.uk FEBRUARY 2018 | 245