TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE (PART 3 OF 4)
11. Get more friends
·
Research suggests
that friends help people live longer, and socializing with friends is beneficial.
· Having friends around as you age can do more for life expectancy than
having family members around.
· They may also encourage people to
look after their health, and help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety at
difficult times.
12. No smoking
·
It is better not to
start at all, but the sooner a smoker quits, the better.
·
The longer a person smokes the greater the
risk of lung cancer or heart disease.
·
Within one year after quitting, the risk of a heart
attack falls to about half that of a smoker, and within 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that
of a smoker.
13. Relax
·
Relaxation reduces
blood pressure and helps reduce conditions such as depression.
·
A relaxation
technique such as yoga or meditation can help reduce stress levels.
14. Get a pet
·
Ownership of a pet,
particularly a dog, means people are more active.
·
Animals are known to reduce anxiety both from the actual physical comfort from stroking them, but also
because they are a distraction and something pleasant to focus on.
·
They are also good
friends to many and provide a source of amusement, making us laugh.
15. Exercise more
·
Exercise reduces heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis,
diabetes and obesity.
·
It keeps joints,
tendons and ligaments flexible, besides helping treat
depression, stress and
anxiety, and also aids
better sleep.
·
Even if you have less time, you could gain simply by walking up the stairs rather
than taking the elevator, or even by walking or cycling on shorter journeys
rather than taking the car.