Why Breaking Unhealthy Habits Will Extend Your Life

Genetics is one of the factors that determines how long you are going to live. Although you cannot do anything about your genetics, a healthy lifestyle can help extend your life. On the other hand, there are unhealthy habits that can take years off of your life.

​Smoking and Drug Abuse
​Smoking can increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. In fact, an estimated 75% of all oral cancers are caused by habits like smoking. Even if you only smoke occasionally, you can still be doing serious harm to your health. If you quit smoking, then you can add 10 years to your life. In addition to smoking regular cigarettes, it's important to understand that other forms of drug abuse can also have long-term consequences on your health and longevity in life. Recovery from addictive drugs like heroin is often a lifelong struggle. Drug abuse is incredibly hard on your body and can even be deadly. If this is something you struggle with, then addressing it now will go a long way toward improving your long-term health.

Drinking Too Much
Small amounts of alcohol are not likely to harm your health. However, if you drink too much, then you can take years off of your life. You should not have more than three alcoholic beverages per day. Alcohol can cause liver problems, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

Sitting Too Much
Studies have shown that sitting for more than three hours per day can take two years off of your life. Even if you exercise regularly, you can still harm your health by sitting too much. One study showed that people who sat for more than 11 hours per day were 40 percent more likely to die within three years.

There are things that you can do to protect your health if you have a sedentary job. You can get a stand-up desk. You also want to make sure that you get up and walk regularly throughout the day.

Being Anti-Social
Even if you do not smoke, drink or sit too much, you can still be harming your health if you are anti-social. Studies have shown that people who have weak social connections are more likely to die prematurely than those who are more social. In fact, one study showed that being lonely can be just as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Another study showed that elderly people who had strong social connections were 22 percent less likely to die. They also had healthier brains.

Your genetics are not the only thing that influence your lifespan. You can add years to your life by changing your lifestyle. Not smoking and limiting your alcohol consumption will add years to your life. You will also need to make sure that you maintain an active lifestyle. Additionally, it is important to have an active social life.

Remember, you genetics do not control your destiny., You can take active steps to insure that your body will be happy and healthy for years to come. Part of that is having adequate medical care and medical overage. Contact George Beach insurance services today to learn more about our health insurance programs.

References:
Baines Dentistry | Oral Cancer Screening
Dr. John Day | 4 Bad Habits that Shorten Your Life 18 Years
Huffington Post | 11 Things You’re Doing That Could Shorten Your Life
The Recovery Village | Heroin Addiction Treatment & Rehab