Stay Healthy to Live Long

Scientists have recently concluded that the secret to long life is to be healthy. While some people might find this conclusion obvious, the benefit of such scientific studies is to allow us to have a greater understanding of why and what factors can affect our lifespan.

The study followed 2,357 men through the Physicians’ Health Study to observe which lifestyle and health habits lead to the longest lives. The participants were initially evaluated at age 72, and then received annual follow up for the next 20 years. Of the initial group of men, 970 survived to 90 or older.

The study found that regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and avoiding hypertension and diabetes where the most significant factors affecting life span. Following this advice can give you a 54% chance of living past 90.

Unfortunately, the researchers found that having any one of the negative conditions dramatically decreased your chances of living to such a late age. However, the benefits of regular exercise and not smoking created the most significant positive impact on lifespan. This means that even if your health is not as perfect as it could be, exercise may shift the scales in your favorable direction.