Ten Simple Ways to Live Longer
We cannot prevent death, that’s a fact, but at least we can try. There are ways we can increase our lifespan.
What can you do?
1. Stop smoking. It has been pointed out in many health articles and in government campaigns that “Smoking is dangerous to one’s health.†In a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), smoking is the major factor that could contribute to reduced lifespan. In my previous health article, I emphasized the hazardous effects of smoking on one’s health which can lead to reduced lifespan.
2. Reduce your alcohol consumption. According to the study, 3+ drinks a day is too much. Excessive alcohol drinking could result to many diseases such as liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis and cancers. Drinking while driving is the most common cause of vehicular accidents which could immediately end one’s life. The CDC cited few more effects of excessive alcohol consumption.
3. Avoid high blood sugar. High untreated blood-sugar is related to many long-term health problems including the kidneys, nerves, eyes and vision, risk of heart disease and stroke, and erectile dysfunction in men and pregnancy complications in women. Diabetes increases the risk of having a heart attack as much as smoking. Source: I-Base.org.uk
One way of preventing high blood sugar is watching your diet. Avoid eating junk foods, drinking soft drinks, and refined carbohydrates such as potato chips.
What should you eat? High-fiber diet can lower blood glucose level by 10% according to a study by The New England Journal of Medicine.
Probably, the Glycemic Index can help you choose which foods should be avoided according to its carbohydrate content.
4. Get enough sleep. Sleeping too much can reduce life expectancy, according to a February 2002 study in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The study shows that people who sleep more than eight hours per night had a significantly higher death rate than normal. But late-night-party-goers shouldn’t rejoice: researches say that sleeping less than four hours also increases death rates. People who sleep between six and seven hours per night were shown to live the longest. Source: Forbes.com.
5. Be optimistic. A health article on MSNBC points out the effects of optimism to one’s health. Optimists tend to adjust better to health threats and conditions than pessimists do.
6. Exercise, exercise and exercise. Regular exercise can help protect you from heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, noninsulin-dependent diabetes, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis, and can improve your mood and help you to better manage stress.
7. Get some good laughs. US cardiologist Dr William Fry says that a good laugh is like a mini-workout - 100 to 200 laughs are equivalent to ten minutes of jogging or rowing.
8. Get some relaxation techniques. A relaxation technique such as yoga or meditation are proven to help alleviate stress. Relaxation reduces blood pressure and helps reduce stress-related conditions such as depression.
9. Get a pet. People who own pets, especially dogs, have been shown to be less stressed and require fewer visits to their physicians than non-owners. Pet owners have also been shown to have lower blood pressure. The reasons for these findings are most likely related to an array of psychological factors, such as the facts that owning a pet decreases loneliness and depression, encourages laughter and nurturing, and stimulates exercise. Source: Forbes.com
10. Go to church. In a recent study, the researchers found out that people who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:
* Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
* Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
* Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years
