Men adopting all eight healthy habits by age 40 may live up to 24 years longer, while women could extend their life expectancy by 21 years, as per a large-scale study.
Researchers were amazed at the substantial gains achievable by adopting even one or two healthy lifestyle factors, underscoring their impact on both public health and personal wellness.
Conducted on 719,147 participants aged 40 to 99, the study analyzed data from the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program, noting 33,375 deaths during the follow-up period from 2011 to 2019.
Low physical activity, smoking, and opioid use were linked to significantly higher mortality risks (30-45%), while factors like chronic stress, poor diet, and inadequate sleep increased risks by around 20%.
Findings highlight lifestyle's crucial role in preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, which often lead to premature disability and death.
Emphasizing treating root causes rather than symptoms, lifestyle medicine offers potential cost savings in healthcare by reducing reliance on medications and surgeries.
Emphasizing treating root causes rather than symptoms, lifestyle medicine offers potential cost savings in healthcare by reducing reliance on medications and surgeries.
Implementing a balanced diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, regular check-ups, stress management, no smoking, healthy weight.