Healthy lifestyle in middle age prolongs life significantly

How does our lifestyle affect our life expectancy??

Most people hope to live as long as possible. Researchers now found that adults can extend their life expectancy by more than a decade through a healthy middle-aged lifestyle. For example, such a lifestyle reduces the risk of dying of cancer or heart disease.

The scientists of internationally recognized Harvard T.H. Boston's Chan School of Public Health found in their current research that a healthy lifestyle in middle age leads to a significant increase in life expectancy. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Circulation".

Life expectancy is significantly increased when middle-aged people pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

These five habits affect life expectancy

Researchers focused on five habits of lifestyle that are commonly associated with a lower risk of multiple chronic medical problems. These included abstaining from tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, providing sufficient exercise, eating healthy and maintaining normal body weight, the experts explain.

What was the impact of a healthy lifestyle??

During a follow-up period of three decades, it was observed that participants who observed all five habits were generally 74% less likely to die prematurely. In addition, 82 percent fewer died of heart disease and 65 percent less likely to die of cancer, say the physicians. At age 50, women who followed all five of these healthy habits had a 14-year life expectancy compared to women who did not follow any of these habits. In men over the age of fifty, which noted the five important issues, life expectancy was twelve years higher compared to men who did not pay attention to these habits.

So far, there were only a few studies on the subject

Although it is already known that healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, few studies have quantified the benefits of these lifestyle factors on prolonging life expectancy, says study author Dr. Frank Hu of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in a press release. Although the US is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Americans have a shorter life expectancy than people in many other high-income countries, which is partly due to higher rates of many preventable diseases, say the experts.

Study had more than 120,000 participants

The study involved nearly 79,000 nurses and more than 44,000 male health professionals. Half of the women were medically monitored for at least 34 years and half of the men for at least 27 years. In total, 42,167 people died during this period. Of these, 13,953 volunteers died of cancer and another 10,689 participants died of cardiovascular disease, explain the researchers.

Avoidance of smoking is a top priority

Each of the five individual healthy habits was studied individually in the study. It was found that all were associated with a lower risk of premature death. However, the effect was greatest when the participants adhered to all five health habits. The study was not a controlled experiment to show if and how each of these habits could directly contribute to longevity or which individual habits could have the greatest impact, the researchers explain. There is no question, however, that smoking prevention is a top priority, adds Drs. Hu added.

Life expectancy has been extended considerably

Not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are critical to the prevention of cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases, the study author further explains. Eating well and exercising regularly is not only important to maintaining healthy weight but also contributes to a lower risk of chronic disease. Although it is already known that a healthy lifestyle can increase life expectancy and reduce the risk of chronic illness, the study provides new evidence of how much life expectancy is determined by lifestyle.

Preventive strategies are very important

Preventive strategies still play a major role in this age of modern medicine and should be a focus for patients and physicians. Adoption of all five healthy habits is certainly not an easy task for most adults, but quite a challenge. But the results of the study show that even just one or two of these habits will increase life expectancy. (As)