Doctors Flag 10 Habits That Undercut Longevity, From Skipping Care to Missing 150 Minutes of Exercise
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Jul 19
Doctors Flag 10 Habits That Undercut Longevity, From Skipping Care to Missing 150 Minutes of Exercise
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Jul 19
Summary
Doctors Heather Whitson and Lee Lindquist said 10 common behaviors can shorten healthy lifespan, highlighting skipped preventive care, social isolation, outdated medications and too little exercise.
150 minutes of moderate activity a week—or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise—was cited as a baseline, while adults also need 7 to 9 hours of sleep and regular reviews of medications that can raise fall or memory risks.
Smoking, unhealthy diets and unmanaged stress were also singled out because they increase risks tied to heart disease, dementia, poor immunity, worse mood and other age-related decline.
The doctors said longevity planning extends beyond daily habits to the last 10 to 20 years of life, including housing, caregiving and medical decisions before crises hit.
Financial preparation is part of that picture, they added, warning that some patients now live 30 years past retirement and can outlast their savings.