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Do You Know How Long You Will Live?
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The average life expectancy of humans went up by as much as 30% in the 20th century. In the last 5000 years, this has been the greatest boost by far that human life expectancy has had. In fact, Centenarians (people who live to be more than 100 years old) were few and far between but in just one decade from 1990 to 2000, there has been a 50% increase in their numbers!
The usual reasons one would give for such a phenomenon are technological advances in health, literacy and education, new and effective disease prevention methods and quality medical treatments. However, there are other important factors, most of them very unusual, which do affect your life expectancy. Everyday habits that we do not place much importance on, past circumstances, and even the medical history of your family do influence your age.
Here is a look at few such factors that determine how long you will live. These will help you to know what you're doing right in life and if not much, then we also have tips that will help you get things back on track.
- Your mother's age when she had you: Research suggests that if your mother was less than 25 years old when she had you, you have double the chances of living till 100 years than someone whose mother was older when they were born.
- You love tea: People who drink 2-3 cups of tea every day are at much lower risk of dying from a stroke or heart disease than those who do not drink tea. However, only green and black teas seem to have these benefits and not the ready-to-drink variety that is available in stores. Also, once milk is added to tea, the benefits may get eliminated.
- You do your own housework: People who do not have a housekeeper, maid, or servant to do their housework can lower their risk of death by 30%. Sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping floors translates into great exercise and consequently into a longer life span.
- You love to walk: There are people who will get into their cars even if they have to go just a few hundred feet away whereas others love to walk regardless of the distance. If you fall into the second category, chances are that you will live longer than people who do not walk, regardless of your body fat percentage. Even adding 10 minutes of walking or other physical activity into your daily routine can help to enhance the health of your heart.
- Your legs are strong: Strong thighs and legs mean you will have better flexibility, balance, and endurance in your old age. Risk of injuries from falls is lowered, thus eliminating one of the leading causes of illness and death in older people. So, to increase longevity, make sure you do your lower body exercises and keep your legs strong.
- You don't drink colas: Drinking even one soft drink every day (even if it is diet) can raise your insulin levels, increase your blood pressure, and deposit added fat around your waist. All these factors lead to ill health and reduced longevity. So, if a long and healthy life is what you're after, stop drinking colas today.
- As a teenager, you had a healthy weight: A medical study concluded that people who were overweight when they were 14 years of age were at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes when they became adults than those who had a healthy weight in their teens. And if you have diabetes as an adult, you are two to four times more likely to get heart problems than non-diabetics. So, make sure your kids are at a healthy weight when they are in their teens.
- You have plenty of friends who you like! Having many friends whom you like helps to build interpersonal relationships, which in turn helps to reduce stress. Your friends are also a very strong support group and knowing that you have such support keeps you healthy physically as well as mentally. However, not just any friend will help you in this manner. You need friends who will be there for you and listen to you without judgement.
- You have been to college: People who have more education under their belts may live about 1 1/2 year more than those who have lesser education. The main reason behind this is that people with more education tend to smoke lesser than people who are less educated. That being said, if you do not smoke, your life span will be higher than smokers, regardless of your education.
- You are what is known as a Flourisher: People who have a positive outlook on life, a strong sense of purpose, and those who live to help others are known as 'flourishers'. Such people are healthier and have higher life expectancy than people who are 'languishers', meaning those who have negative outlook on life and never feel good about themselves.
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Ruchi Agarwal
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Good
- Jyoti Priyadarshini
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