There’s no question that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Research shows aging is a key factor in its development. A major long-term study of lifestyle factors has identified eight key behaviors and clinical measurements to help people slow the effects of cellular aging. Over an 11-14 year period, 5,682 adults were followed to evaluate factors in aging. Fifty-six percent of them were women, with an average age of 56.
The results identified what are termed Life’s Essential 8. Four were key behaviors:
- The nightly amount of sleep
- Whether you smoke
- The amount of physical activity
- How well you eat
Proper management of those factors is critical. Also important were four clinical measurements:
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Blood sugar
- Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
Managing these eight essential factors is a key to slowing aging. Study participants were rated on how they performed. The higher the Life Essential 8 score, the lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The study also demonstrated that maintaining heart-healthy behaviors might reverse cell aging.
Your Retirement Years Should Be Happy and Healthy
With more retirement income, seniors will live healthier lives. That’s one reason Council of Seniors is working tirelessly to get Congress to pass The SAVE Benefits Act. You need this legislation because the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) hasn’t kept up with inflation in recent years. $581 was withheld from seniors, and it’s time for that money to be returned.
Please sign our petition right away. Congress has ignored the growing number of Americans expecting this help for far too long.
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