Heart Beat: Small price to pay for an extra 14 years
Heart Beat
Small price to pay for an extra 14 years
If you had the foresight during middle age to exercise, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink alcohol in moderation, and not smoke, you may have added up to 14 years to your life. Writing in the online journal PLoS Medicine, British researchers showed that people who didn't do any of these four had the same chance of dying over a decade-long follow-up period as those 14 years older who did all of them. Much of the gain came from a reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Even if middle age is behind you, doing any or all of these can help you live better and maybe longer.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.