What are your current chances of living until you're 90 or even 100?
It's true that your genes may have something to do with it. So if longevity runs in your family, you may well have a better chance than most of notching up nine or 10 decades yourself too. But according to many experts, your lifestyle is also crucial if you want to stand any chance of reaching your 100th birthday.
Most recently Dr Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist and lecturer at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, said there's a good chance you could live 40 or 50 more years after your 50th birthday if you follow a series of simple lifestyle steps.
None of Dr Yancy's suggestions will surprise you, however. His advice is simply a round-up of some of the most touted health messages in recent years. But it's advice that is well worth repeating.
“Dr Yancy’s simple suggestions aren’t rocket science but he’s right to say they could make a huge and immediate difference to the heart health of many, many people," says Amy Thompson, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation.
So for all you aspiring centenarians out there, here are the seven steps…
1. Get active
Being physically active could add around four years to your expected lifespan (or, if you want to see it the other way around, shave four years off your life if you're inactive). If you're not very active, you could also have twice the risk of having a heart attack or stroke as someone who is active.
2. Know your cholesterol
High cholesterol affects two-thirds of Brits, says Heart UK. High cholesterol also increases your heart disease and stroke risk. If you don't know your cholesterol, many pharmacies offer cholesterol screening – use our Pharmacy Finder to find your nearest participating pharmacy.
3. Eat healthily
Most people are aware of the link between healthy eating and being healthy these days, yet as a nation we eat around 10 percent too many calories every day. If you need help with your diet, your GP or pharmacist can help.
4. Know your blood pressure
Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart problems. Keeping a check on your blood pressure is easy – just ask your pharmacist about blood pressure testing.
5. Keep your weight healthy
Being overweight or obese could reduce your expected lifespan by about four years. If you are struggling with a weight problem, many pharmacies offer weight management services.
6. Manage diabetes
For those who have diabetes, make sure you keep it in check by controlling your blood sugar levels. More than two million Brits have diabetes – the majority suffers from type 2 diabetes, which is lifestyle-related.
7. Stay smoke-free
If you smoke, by giving it up you will almost immediately reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Again, your pharmacist can help by offering support and advice on products that will help, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.
"Here in the UK heart and circulatory disease costs the economy £30billion every year," adds the BHF's Amy Thompson. "There is no doubt we could make a huge dent in that figure if more of us were physically active for at least 30 minutes on five or more days a week; ate a healthy, balanced diet; maintained a healthy weight; and gave up smoking.
"Cholesterol levels and diabetes must also be carefully managed and everyone should make an effort to know their numbers when it comes to blood pressure. Each of us can help lessen the national burden of heart disease by choosing a healthier lifestyle."
Are you doing your bit to stay healthy and live to 100?
Most recently Dr Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist and lecturer at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, said there's a good chance you could live 40 or 50 more years after your 50th birthday if you follow a series of simple lifestyle steps.
None of Dr Yancy's suggestions will surprise you, however. His advice is simply a round-up of some of the most touted health messages in recent years. But it's advice that is well worth repeating.
“Dr Yancy’s simple suggestions aren’t rocket science but he’s right to say they could make a huge and immediate difference to the heart health of many, many people," says Amy Thompson, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation.
So for all you aspiring centenarians out there, here are the seven steps…
1. Get active
Being physically active could add around four years to your expected lifespan (or, if you want to see it the other way around, shave four years off your life if you're inactive). If you're not very active, you could also have twice the risk of having a heart attack or stroke as someone who is active.
2. Know your cholesterol
High cholesterol affects two-thirds of Brits, says Heart UK. High cholesterol also increases your heart disease and stroke risk. If you don't know your cholesterol, many pharmacies offer cholesterol screening – use our Pharmacy Finder to find your nearest participating pharmacy.
3. Eat healthily
Most people are aware of the link between healthy eating and being healthy these days, yet as a nation we eat around 10 percent too many calories every day. If you need help with your diet, your GP or pharmacist can help.
4. Know your blood pressure
Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart problems. Keeping a check on your blood pressure is easy – just ask your pharmacist about blood pressure testing.
5. Keep your weight healthy
Being overweight or obese could reduce your expected lifespan by about four years. If you are struggling with a weight problem, many pharmacies offer weight management services.
6. Manage diabetes
For those who have diabetes, make sure you keep it in check by controlling your blood sugar levels. More than two million Brits have diabetes – the majority suffers from type 2 diabetes, which is lifestyle-related.
7. Stay smoke-free
If you smoke, by giving it up you will almost immediately reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Again, your pharmacist can help by offering support and advice on products that will help, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.
"Here in the UK heart and circulatory disease costs the economy £30billion every year," adds the BHF's Amy Thompson. "There is no doubt we could make a huge dent in that figure if more of us were physically active for at least 30 minutes on five or more days a week; ate a healthy, balanced diet; maintained a healthy weight; and gave up smoking.
"Cholesterol levels and diabetes must also be carefully managed and everyone should make an effort to know their numbers when it comes to blood pressure. Each of us can help lessen the national burden of heart disease by choosing a healthier lifestyle."
Are you doing your bit to stay healthy and live to 100?
