Life is finite. It has limits, in terms of years and quantity. This is why many people say it is the quality of life that matters. However, did you know that with proper care for our mind and body, we can prolong it and make the most out of it? Is it really possible to improve life both qualitatively and quantitatively? Here are some practical tips:
- Protect Your DNA
As you age, the ends of your chromosomes — called telomeres — become shorter. This makes you more likely to get sick. But lifestyle changes can boost an enzyme that increases their length. Plus, studies show diet and exercise can protect them. The bottom line: Healthy habits may slow aging at the cellular level.
2. Play to Win
An 80-year study found that people who are conscientious, those who pay attention to detail, think things through, and try to do what’s right — live longer. They do more things to protect their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.
3. Make Friends
Here’s one more reason to be grateful for your friends — they might help you live longer. Australian researchers found elderly social butterflies were less likely to die over a 10-year period compared to people with the fewest friends. A look at results from 148 more studies shows a clear link between social ties and a long life.
4. Choose Friends Wisely
Your friends’ habits rub off on you, so look for buddies with healthy lifestyles. Your chances of becoming obese go up if you have a friend who adds extra pounds. Smoking also spreads through social ties, but the good news is that quitting is also contagious.
5. Quit Smoking
It’s no secret that giving up cigarettes can lengthen your days, but the amount of extra time may surprise you. A 50-year British study shows that quitting at age 30 could increase your lifespan by an entire decade. Kicking the habit at age 40, 50, or 60 can add 9, 6, or 3 years to your life, respectively.
6. Embrace the Siesta
A siesta is standard in many parts of the world, and now there’s scientific evidence that napping may help you live longer. A study that involved 24,000 people suggests those who have a regular snooze are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than those who rarely steal a few winks. Researchers think naps might help your heart by keeping stress hormones down.
7. Follow a Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. An analysis of 50 studies involving more than half a million people confirms the benefits. It can put a serious dent in your risk of metabolic syndrome — a mix of obesity, high blood sugar, increased blood pressure, and other factors that make you more likely to get heart disease and diabetes.
8. Eat Like an Okinawan
The people of Okinawa, Japan, once lived longer than any other group on Earth. The region’s traditional diet, which is high in green and yellow vegetables, and low in calories gets the credit. Plus, some Okinawans made a habit of eating only 80% of the food on their plate. Younger generations have dropped the old ways and aren’t living as long as their ancestors.
9. Lose Weight
If you’re overweight, slimming down can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that take years off your life. Belly fat is bad for you, so focus on deflating that spare tire. A 5-year study of Hispanics and African-Americans suggests eating more fiber and exercising regularly are great ways to whittle your middle.
10. Keep Moving
The evidence is clear — people who exercise live longer on average than those who don’t. Dozens of studies show that regular physical activity lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and depression. It may even help you stay mentally sharp in into old age. Ten-minute spurts are fine, as long as they add up to about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.
11. Drink in Moderation
Heart disease is less common in moderate drinkers than in people who don’t drink at all. On the other hand, too much alcohol pads the belly, boosts blood pressure, and can cause a host of other health problems. If you drink alcohol, the limit should be one drink a day for women and one or two for men. But if you don’t drink, don’t start. There are better ways to protect your heart!
12. Get Spiritual
People who attend religious services tend to live longer than those who don’t. In a 12-year study of people over age 65, those who went more than once a week had higher levels of a key immune system protein than their peers who didn’t. The strong social network that develops among people who worship together may contribute to your overall health.
13. Forgive
Letting go of grudges has surprising physical health benefits. Chronic anger is linked to decreased lung function, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. Forgiveness will reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and help you breathe more easily. These benefits tend to increase as you get older.
14. Use Safety Gear
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP)–Highway Patrol Group (HPG), 567 persons died and 5,220 others were injured in 11,285 traffic accidents nationwide in the first six months of 2015. Also, according to the World Health Organization – Western Pacific Region, in the Philippines, accidents, of all types including road traffic crashes, rank fourth among the causes of death in all ages. Next to assault, road traffic crashes are the second leading cause of injury death for all ages. Among 0 to 17 year old children, road traffic crash is also the second leading cause of injury deaths, next to drowning. Wearing safety gear is a simple way to boost your odds of a long life. For example, seatbelts reduce the chances of death or serious injury in a car wreck by 50%. Most deaths from bike accidents are caused by head injuries, so always wear a helmet.
15. Make Sleep a Priority
Getting enough good quality sleep can lower your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mood disorders. It’ll also help you recover from illness faster. Burning the midnight oil, on the other hand, is bad for you. Snooze for less than 5 hours a night and you might boost your chances of dying early, so make sleep a priority.
16. Manage Stress
You’ll never completely avoid stress, but you can learn good ways to control it. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.
17. Maintain a Sense of Purpose
Hobbies and activities that have meaning for you may lengthen your life. Japanese researchers found men with a strong sense of purpose were less likely to die from stroke, heart disease, or other causes over a 13-year period compared to those who were less sure of themselves. Being clear about what you’re doing and why can also lower your changes of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Since our topic earlier was about prolonging life as much as possible, the truth still remains that life ends at some point. For our case of the week, let us talk about average life expenctancy in the Philippines, so we would know that we need to take more care of ourselves as we get older each year.
Life expectancy at birth, total (years)
Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.
Data is derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices.
https://data.worldbank.org/share/widget?indicators=SP.DYN.LE00.IN
For 1960 to 2016. Upward trend.
Source: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN
We sometimes get reaction from people who equate the expression “mental health” with the stigma of psychological sickness. Those remarks originate from individuals who naturally expect people with melancholy, nervousness, or other emotional mental conditions as less than “powerless.”
Sadly, when the media refers to mental illness, it pertains to a mass shooting or aggressive behavior in certain homes. In spite of the fact that these features numerous rough offenders as being mentally-sick, many people with mental health issues aren’t brutal.
Not all mental health issues are reparable—schizophrenia, for instance, doesn’t leave. Be that as it may, most mental health issues are treatable.
Mental health issues are in reality extremely usual. In 2014, about:
Individuals with mental health issues are similarly as functional and productive as the rest of the people in general. Companies that hire individuals with mental health issues report great participation and promptness, as well as inspiration, great work, and job tenure comparable to or more prominent than other employees.
Mental health issues have nothing to do with being weak or lazy, just like how numerous individuals need help to improve in any aspect of their lives. Several factors add to mental health issues, including:
