Lifestyle Habits

for Longer Health Span within a Longer Life Span

Even without the exotic new therapies of antiaging science and antiaging medicine, dramatic extension of health span is achievable just from optimization of a person's lifestyle. During recent decades, there have been numerous longevity surveys and studies done on sizeable groups of people for many lifestyle habits. The resultant body of knowledge has enabled health care professionals and scientists to develop a list of antiaging lifestyle habits whereby people live longer on average. The results of an antiaging lifestyle are already apparent in many members of the post World War II generation, such as the developer of this site. They have benefited from the well rounded diets, vitamins, physical fitness, dental hygiene and other habits that began to be more widely promoted during that time period. Genetics is always an aging factor in either direction, but experts in antiaging medicine and antiaging science have determined that it is usually a minority factor.

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) has determined that on average, in a given group of people, those who have one of the following habits live longer than those in the same group who do not have that habit. It has become apparent that the more of these habits a person has, the more likely that person is to experience a dramatic cumulative benefit toward slower aging. A4M has also used this information to develop a longevity test that you can take.

1. Genetic Aging Factors: uncontrollable without scientific intervention such as hormone therapy or genetic engineering

2. Lifestyle Aging Factors: controllable with varying degrees of difficulty; includes obvious health related habits plus stress factors and elective health care opportunities for medical intervention before aging is affected

3. Lifestyle Longevity Factors: Controllable; do not affect physical aging but reduce chance of shortened life due to hazards

4. Health Indicators: Provide signs of faster aging, possibly due to poor lifestyle choices

1. Genetic Aging Factors: uncontrollable without scientific intervention such as hormone therapy or genetic engineering Return to Top

At least two grandparents who lived past the age of 80
Average life of all four grandparents 71 or better
No parent who has had a heart attack or stroke before age 50
No grandparent, parent or sibling who prior to age 65 has had hypertension, cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes or other genetic diseases
You or close family member do not have genetic diabetes

2. Lifestyle Aging Factors: controllable with varying degrees of difficulty; includes obvious health related habits plus stress factors and elective health care opportunities for medical intervention before aging is affected Return to Top

Higher Income
Higher Education
Calm but alert temperament/high energy and active
Employment
Career advancement prospect
No regular direct contact with pollutants, toxic waste, chemicals, radiation or firearms
Live in rural or non-congested area
Live in area with little or no air pollution
Live in low crime area
Live in home free of radon
Short commuting time to work
Live within 30 miles of a major medical or trauma center
Have medical insurance
Able to use physician of your choice
Insurance does not limit choice of physician
Do not smoke
Moderate consumption of alcohol
Do 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise at least three times per week
Climb at least 6 flights of stairs per day
Walk at least two miles per day
Have ideal weight for height
Eat well balanced diet
Eat meals at consistent times
Avoid snacking or late night eating
Eat a balanced breakfast regularly
Eat red meat once per week or less
Eat at least 5 servings of green leafy vegetables per week
Eat at least 5 servings of fresh fruit or juice per day
Avoid fats
Eat fried take out foods, prepackaged or precooked foods less than 50% of the time
Eat some high fiber food every day, such as whole-grain bread, fresh fruits and vegetables
Take a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement including at least
Vitamin A/beta-carotene (5000 IU)
Vitamin E (400 mg)
Vitamin B/complex (50 IU)
Zinc (30 mg)
Selenium (100 mcg)
Vitamin C (500 mg)
Use suncreen to avoid excessive sun
Subscribe to health related periodicals
Involved in life-extension, prevention or comprehensive wellness program?
Comprehensive physical exams and blood tests every 3-4 years before 50 and every 1-2 years over 50?
Men: genital self exam every 3 months?
Men: Prostate exam yearly after age 30?
Rectal exam and test for hidden blood in stool every year?
If over 50, sigmoidoscopy of the lower bowel every 3 years?
Married or in a long term committed relationship (illness, accident and death reduced by up to 50%)
Satisfying sex life, twice per week or more?
Do not live alone more than 5 years at a time
Have three or more close friends
Active member in a religious community or volunteer organization
Have a pet
Have a regular daily routine
Get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night
Have a consistent sleep time
Have a regular work routine
Work no more than 40 hours per week
Take a yearly vacation from work for at least 6 days
Regularly use a stress management technique such as yoga, meditation, music, etc.
Happy most of the time
Regularly have and enjoy time with family and friends
Mostly feel in control of your personal life and career
Live within your financial means
Set new goals and look for new challenges
Consistently participate in a creative outlet or hobby
Consistently have and enjoy leisure time
Usually express feelings easily
Usually laugh easily
Usually expect good things to happen
Rarely anger easily
Not constantly critical of yourself
Not constantly critical of others
Rarely feeling lonely, either when alone or with others
Mostly avoid worrying about things out of your control
Avoid regretting sacrifices made in life

3. Lifestyle Longevity Factors: Controllable; do not affect physical aging but reduce chance of shortened life due to hazards Return to Top

Always wear seat belt as a driver and as a passenger
Never drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking
Drive cautiously, avoid speeding and accidents
Avoid driving to many miles more than normal per year?
Drive car weighing at least 3,500 lbs
Avoid situations that could lead to physical fights or attacks
Smoke alarms in home

4. Health Indicators: Provide signs of faster aging, possibly due to poor lifestyle choices Return to Top

Overall health
Blood pressure
Cholesterol level
HDL Cholesterol level
Racing heart, irregular heartbeat or chest pain after brisk walk or slow jog?
More than 2 pillows to sleep comfortably because of discomfort or breathing while lying on back
Colds or other infection more than once every 8 weeks?
Long time to get over bad infection, colds typically last longer than two weeks?
Need antibiotics at least 3 times per year?
Lymph nodes often enlarged?
Have suspicious skin legion that hasn't healed in 6 weeks or keeps growing?
Well formed bowel movements 1 or 2 times per day without difficulty?

Home Page Newsletters FAQs H-SCAN Physical Age Test Our Results