While genetics play a role, everyday habits have a major impact on how well we age. Doctors highlight ten common practices that are most detrimental to longevity.
1. Skipping preventive care like screenings and vaccines is neglecting essential maintenance for your body.
2. Social isolation damages cognition and longevity. Cultivating joyful relationships is crucial.
3. Not reviewing medications with age can lead to prescriptions that increase fall risk or impair thinking.
4. A lack of exercise harms mood, weight, bones, heart, and brain. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly.
5. Smoking is linked to cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Quitting requires motivation and often medical support.
6. An unhealthy diet, low in whole foods and high in processed items, reduces chances of a long, healthy life.
7. Chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of dementia and heart disease. Adults need 7-9 hours per night.
8. Unmanaged stress chronically activates the body's stress response, weakening the immune system and harming metabolism.
9. Failing to plan for future health needs in your later years can lead to crisis. Discuss care options and living arrangements early.
10. Not planning financially for a potentially long retirement can result in outliving your savings, adding stress to later life.