The top ten ways to live longer,
according to Forbes.com, are as follows:
1) Don't oversleep – A study in the
ARCHIVES OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY reported that people who sleep between 6 and 7
hours per night live the longest.
BB -- Personally, I sleep about 10
hours per night. That way, I only need to take two naps during the day, plus I
spend so much time in bed that I'm not as likely to be run over by a truck.
2) Be optimistic – Researchers at the
Mayo Clinic determined that optimists have a 50 percent lower risk of early
death compared to pessimists.
BB -- I'm a pessimist and proud of it.
Optimists have high expectations which are not always met, causing endless
disappointment. However, pessimists are never disappointed because they never
expect anything to work out. I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised on
occasion than disappointed.
3) Have more sex – An April 2004 study
in the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION found
that sex keeps us healthy, by reducing stress and making us happier.
BB -- Apparently, I'm doomed to live a very short
life.
4) Get a pet – Studies show that people who own pets, especially
dogs, are less stressed, thus live longer. It decreases loneliness, encourages
nurturing and stimulates exercise.
BB --
I've always had a dog or two hanging out with me. If I didn't have a dog, I'd
be stuck with my alter ego and an oak tree for companionship.
5) Get a VAP – Heart disease is the
number one killer in the USA. A traditional cholesterol test only detects 50
percent of the people with heart disease. A VAP test has been shown to detect 90 percent of heart
disease patients.
BB -- Since I'm in the V.A. medical
system, I'll just have to live with 1952 technology and take my chances.
6) Be rich – According to the National
Center for Health Statistics, those with the highest poverty rates have the
worst health status. Higher incomes permit access to increased medical care.
BB --
However, I prefer to remain poor because I don't like to pay too many taxes and
no one ever tries to borrow money from me.
7) Stop smoking – Just about everyone
on this planet knows by now that smoking is bad for your health and frequently
leads to premature death.
BB -- I started in junior high and quit
ten years later. I did it because all the cool dudes did it. And I quit because
I realized that the coolest dudes of all were the ones who had minds of their
own.
8) Chill out – A study at Johns Hopkins
University revealed that men having the highest level of anger in response to
stress were over three times more likely to develop premature heart disease
than those with lower anger responses, and over six times more likely to have a
heart attack by age 55.
BB --
I was often stressed and angry in my younger days, until I finally realized
suffering was an important part of life and that I should embrace it.
9) Eat antioxidants – Free radicals are unstable
chemical compounds that accelerate the aging of our cells and contribute to
various degenerative diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's and
cancer. Antioxidants destroy free radicals. Research shows certain types of
beans and berries are the best sources of antioxidants.
BB --
I eat berries once in a while but tend not to eat too many beans, particularly
in public, for obvious reasons.
10) Marry well -- According to a study in
MECHANISMS OF AGING AND DEVELOPMENT, genetics is an important factor because
longevity genes can be inherited. Healthy aging is passed down from generation
to generation.
BB --
My ex-wife married well, both before and after her marriage to me. I wasn't so
lucky. In my own family history, all the men die young and all the women live
forever. I think it has something to do with nagging.
May the Force be with you.
___________
Quote for the Day – "At my age, it's
nice to be anywhere." George Burns
___________
Bret Burquest is the author of 12 books. He lives in the Ozark
Mountains with a few dogs and where life is good.
___________
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