From the booming anti-ageing industry to scientists, everyone wants to know the secrets behind a long and healthy life. Advances in health, and disease prevention and treatments are deemed critical to the process of increasing life expectancy.
But what you may not know is that the seemingly unimportant everyday habits and circumstances in your daily life can influence how long and how well you’ll live for. As compiled from Al-Arabiya News, Prevention magazine, Shape magazine and Time magazine, here are five habits that could shorten your lifespan. It’s time to change a few habits.
Sitting for prolonged hours
Two whole years of your life could get reduced from sitting for more than three hours a day. Research published in the British Medical Journal found that even regular exercise at the gym couldn’t prevent the potential negative effects of sitting for long stretches. Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Another study published in the Jama Internal Medicine inferred that sitting for more than 11 hours a day increased the risk of death by 40 per cent over the next three years, as compared to sitting for less than four hours a day. At work, walk to the restroom that is furthest away whenever you have to use it and take breaks after 20 minutes for three-minute strolls.
Neglecting friends
People with weak social skills have been found to die at a much higher rate than their counterparts, according to research by Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It showed that building social connections and spending time with friends promoted brain health and general wellbeing. The same research found that prolonged loneliness could be as bad for your lifespan as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. On top of all this, elderly people with large circles of friends were found to be 22 per cent less likely to die over a tested study period. It’s time to call your long-lost friend.
Taking naps
Taking a nap may help boost your energy in the short run, but doing it daily can shorten your life span, research shows. In a new study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a team of scientists from the University of Cambridge determined middle-age and older adults who take short daytime naps far more likely to die early than those who don’t. Naps were linked to an increased risk of dying from respiratory disease. The study also found that people who nap longer than others are at a higher risk for diabetes, suggesting that naps of different durations affect the body differently. Examine your sleeping pattern.
Long home-to-work commutes
Driving regularly for long periods of time has been found to increase stress and has been linked to major negative effects. A new study found that longer commutes are linked to poor health. People with longer home-to-work commutes were less healthy, with higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure. They also spent less time participating in moderate to vigorous exercise, and had a lower level of cardiovascular fitness. To offset such negative effects, try commuting during off-peak hours for a shorter trip or pick a workplace that is closer to your house.
Not flossing
Flossing prevents gum disease (obvious) and heart disease (not so obvious). A study in the Journal of American Heart Association found a direct relationship between disease-causing bacteria in the mouth and atherosclerosis. When you floss, you help prevent your gums from becoming inflamed. This harms arteries through two mechanisms: the bacteria find their way into the arteries and causes plaque, and the body mounts an immune response to the bacteria in your mouth, causing inflammation which, in turn, can cause your arteries to narrow. This makes it hard for your heart to perform its functions, leading to heart disease.
Compiled By: Umnia Shahid
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2014.
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