Will You See Your 80th Birthday?
You may be unlucky - with uncontrollable risk factors that can contribute to an early death - or you may not being taking proper care of your health, but your life expectancy outlook doesn't look good. Even though people who live very unhealthy lifestyles sometimes live past the age of 100, that's not the case for the majority of us. So why not start doing your part to increase the odds of living longer and avoiding the top three causes of premature deaths: heart disease, cancer and stroke? To maximize the chances of living past 80 years old, you should:
- Try to live in an area with healthy air quality to limit your exposure to air pollutants that may cause cancer and accelerate aging. I do.
- Get an education to help increase your socioeconomic status, which increases your chance of receiving things such as quality health care. I do.
- Learn to deal with stress and anger more effectively for health and safety reasons. I do.
- Don't smoke or use other tobacco products, which contribute to 20% of cancer deaths. I do.
- Drink alcohol in moderation. I do.
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy. Avoid processed foods, saturated fats and trans fats. This will also help you maintain a healthy weight. I do.
- Exercise at least three times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes. I do.
- Have regular check-ups with your doctor, especially as you get older, to screen for risk factors associated with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. Also let your doctor know what your family's health history looks like. I don't.
- Always wear your seat belt to help prevent accidental deaths. And don't forget to drive safely! I do.
I think 82 is the perfect age to die. BTW, I did an inadvertent click and had to exit the test prematurely and don't know if I'll make it to 80 - and, yes, it was very slow going.
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