People become more vulnerable to health issues as they age. Naturally, the body begins to lose immune function and strength, which increases laziness, fatigue, and the onset of chronic health conditions. However, you can ensure longevity by following a few simple tips. Here’s what you need to know.
- Visit your doctor regularly
Many people are habitual of visiting their doctors when things get worse. They see their doctors after getting sick or only if they need to schedule an urgent appointment. However, the best time and practice to schedule your doctor’s visit is well before getting sick or developing symptoms of illness. This is exactly why most healthcare professionals recommend annual checkups. Having a habit of visiting your doctor for an annual checkup helps you keep tabs on your health and prevent various problems from becoming serious.
For instance, if you were exposed to asbestos at any point in life, you must go for a regular checkup or get tested for lung function. If you prefer keeping yourself up-to-date with all the information related to treatments, specialists, financial assistance, and more, visit mesotheliomahope.com. These resources help gain valuable information about symptoms, prognosis, life-extending treatments, legal options, and financial resources.
- Avoid overeating
If you wish to live a long, healthy life, you cannot neglect the link between calorie intake and longevity. While animal studies have already suggested that the lifespan can be increased with just a 10 to 15% reduction in calorie intake, many other studies for longevity in human populations also reflect the links between low-calorie intake, extended lifespan, and lower chance of disease.
Moreover, access to junk food makes it super easy to overeat, regardless of whether you are out or at home. Similarly, if you are unaware of portion sizes, your habit of overeating can easily spiral out of control, leading to various health complications. Excess body fat or obesity is one of the top health issues from overeating due to far more consumption of calories than one requires.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the amount of food intake and how you feel about it. One way to reduce overeating is to reduce portion sizes, eat less processed foods, orient the diet around whole foods, and consult a professional dietician. A dietitian can help develop a proper eating pattern and plan, providing long-term health benefits.
- Participate in physical activity
Another way to stay healthy and avoid developing chronic health conditions is to perform regular exercise or physical activity. For instance, staying active can help you avoid diabetes, obesity, heart stroke, etc., and significantly enhance life expectancy. So, add more healthy years to your life by performing regular exercise, as it leads to a strong heart or healthier lungs and weight control. It also helps build stronger bones and reduce the risk of diseases, let alone boost energy.
As per the CDC report, every adult must perform at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or a combination of both weekly.
You can include any physical activity you enjoy in your daily routine. Also, you can use a fitness tracker or get a workout buddy to stay disciplined and on track. However, if you are unable to undertake long workouts or it seems daunting to you, simply break sessions into shorter and manageable times, such as 5 to 10-minute sessions/day, to make the most of your exercise routine and without performing 30-minute sessions all at once.
- Reduce anxiety or stress
You cannot avoid stress completely and may experience it in one form or another. However, having too much stress or anxiety results in severe health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or even high blood pressure. Similarly, you may also suffer from emotional reactions like depression, fatigue, irritability, trouble sleeping, or eating too much or too little, let alone turning to alcohol or drugs for instant relief.
In short, anxiety and stress can significantly reduce your life expectancy. If you usually stay stressed for any reason, try to maintain a more positive outlook on your life. Remember, laughter and optimism are two essential components that can prevent stress from taking a toll on your health. However, if you cannot manage stress or anxiety, see your doctor.
Similarly, keep an eye on situations that commonly trigger stress or anxiety and find calmer and healthier ways to react to such situations. You may also practice deep and focused breathing exercises to calm your mind and body while reducing your heartbeat to help prevent stress.
- Socialize with family and friends
Last but not least, try to engage in meaningful activities as they help develop a sense of purpose, elevate mood, and help you live longer. Avoid loneliness or isolation as it is not only detrimental to health but can cause you to develop severe issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, or obesity.
However, if you cannot prevent feeling isolated or lonely, affecting your emotional and physical health, your best bet is to talk to your healthcare professional. Similarly, stay connected with your family and friends, prioritize self-care, eat well, get proper sleep, adopt a pet, or find any activity that you can perform and enjoy that is also meaningful.
Conclusion
Many people believe that longevity is beyond their control. However, you can live a hearty life by adopting healthy habits and choices. So, start with the above practical tips and live a healthy life with a strong mind and body. This will put you on the path to a long life and boost your mood, energy, and health. Good luck.