As you age and enter your senior years, you are more apt to develop some chronic diseases. Your immune system becomes less effective, making it easier to start getting some health complications. By starting early to take steps toward making better lifestyle choices, you can prevent some chronic diseases longer and enjoy healthy aging.
Longevity is not something that happens because you have the right genes. Researchers say that your genes only account for about 25% of the factors that determine how long you will live.
Exercise
The best thing you can start doing to increase your lifespan is to get moving. Developing a regular exercise program has many benefits. A powerful benefit is that it will reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack because it helps reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Exercise will also strengthen your immune system when you combine it with eating healthy. Pain is also reduced by regular exercise. It will give you better moods and less depression and strengthen your bones and muscles.
Another benefit of regular exercise is that it will help keep your brain sharp. Staying fit encourages your brain to create more neurons (connections), enabling you to think more clearly, learn longer, recall better, and delay the onset of dementia.
Regular exercise can also reduce your risk of several types of cancer, which can shorten your longevity. Getting down to a healthy weight lowers your risk because obesity is a risk factor. Cancers you may avoid by being fit include breast, colon, bladder, uterine, lung, kidney, and esophageal.
Eat Healthy
Fast and processed foods contain a lot of salt and fats, which can damage your health. The amount of sugar in soda (up to 9 teaspoons in a can) is very unhealthy. Fancy coffees have similar amounts. Most Americans eat too many sweets and carbs every day – which is why so many are overweight. Reduce your sugar intake and exercise to lose those extra pounds – it will improve your health.
Protect Your Teeth
If you have gingivitis – bleeding of the gums – you are susceptible to many diseases. Bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums when they bleed. Usually, regular brushing of your teeth can remedy the problem. Otherwise, this problem can lead to the initiation of more than 100 diseases because of inflammation – many of which are fatal. Seeing a dentist regularly can help detect problems early.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Experts say the average person needs at least seven hours of sleep each night. Many people try to function on less, but they are hurting their longevity. Insufficient sleep can lead to heart attacks, an increased resistance to insulin, and a reduction in mental function and performance.
Reduced sleep will also make you more susceptible to infection because sleep helps improve your immune system. You also will be more apt to be affected by stress, increasing your risk of anxiety and other mental issues.
Visit a Doctor Annually
Staying in touch with a doctor and getting regular physicals can also increase your lifespan. Often, they can detect problems early while still treatable, but waiting too long can be disastrous.
For many people, aging does not have to mean spending years in a feeble condition. Developing healthy habits can lead to better well-being and a more enjoyable retirement. Staying active as long as you can has many more rewards than being a couch potato.
