The Longevity Code: Relationships Are Key, Quitting Smoking and Drinking Isn't the Only SecretHumanity's pursuit of longevity is like Kua Fu chasing the sun, spanning millennia. From Qin Shi Huang's alchemy for immortality to modern people's quest for a healthy life, the mystery of longevity has always lingered in our minds
The Longevity Code: Relationships Are Key, Quitting Smoking and Drinking Isn't the Only Secret
Humanity's pursuit of longevity is like Kua Fu chasing the sun, spanning millennia. From Qin Shi Huang's alchemy for immortality to modern people's quest for a healthy life, the mystery of longevity has always lingered in our minds. But what is the secret to a long life? Several Nobel laureates, through their research, have revealed that the answer lies not solely in good lifestyle habits, and is not solely correlated with smoking or drinking. The true "code" to longevity may be more surprising than you think.
Identifying the key factors that influence lifespan has been the life's work of renowned American psychologist Howard Friedman. He and his collaborator Leslie Martin, after twenty years of dedicated research, compiled their findings into the book "The Longevity Project," sparking heated discussions in the international academic community. The book's "Six Factors Influencing Human Lifespan" are considered the most authoritative guidelines to date.
Ranking of the Six Factors, Unveiling the Longevity Code:
1. Social Relationships: Howard Friedman's placing of "social relationships" at the top of the list is not without reason. In 2009, three Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine co-authored an article emphasizing the importance of social relationships for longevity. Positive social relationships not only bring happiness and relieve stress but also regulate mind and body, promoting healthy longevity.
A Harvard Medical School study tracking over 100 seventy-year-olds showed that those with poor social connections and lack of social interaction had shorter lifespans than those with unhealthy habits. Modern medical research has found that many lifespan-threatening illnesses are inextricably linked to psychological suppression. Prolonged social isolation leads to excessive secretion of stress hormones in the body, which is detrimental to both mental and physical health, and longevity. To live long, you need to interact with others and cultivate good "social connections."
2. Personality Traits: Multiple studies on centenarians have shown that they generally possess the personality traits of optimism, responsibility, and a positive outlook on aging.
- Optimism: When faced with life's difficulties, centenarians tend to resolve issues with a positive and optimistic attitude, quickly shedding negative emotions.
- Responsibility: They feel a sense of responsibility for themselves, their children, and those around them, actively shoulder social responsibilities, and are willing to contribute.
- Positive Mindset: Centenarians don't adopt a pessimistic and negative view of aging; they are able to accept it calmly and actively seek out life's joys.
Medical experts point out that people with gentle and optimistic personalities have an average lifespan 7-8 years longer than the average person.
3. Occupational Lifespan: The official journal of the American Psychological Association points out that people who continue to work after retirement have a 17% lower risk of serious illnesses than their peers and score higher in both physical and mental tests.
Professor Cheng Shujun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, explains that complete idleness after retirement can lead to a decline in physical function and mental state, which is not conducive to longevity. He suggests that older adults find something to do after retirement, even if it's just tending a small farm, watering and weeding every day, it's healthier and more conducive to longevity than complete idleness.
4. Perception of One's Age: Studies have found that people's perception of their own age has a significant impact on lifespan.
- An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that individuals who feel older than their actual age have a 40% higher risk of death, while those who perceive themselves as younger than their actual age have a 16% lower risk of death. While this may seem overly subjective, the research findings have been substantiated.
5. Ability to Quit Bad Habits: Bad habits like staying up late, smoking, and drinking can affect your lifespan. In 1965, a U.S. research institution found that an average cigarette shortens a smoker's life by 5 minutes. Smokers have an average lifespan shortened by 6-8 years, with every cigarette puff drawing on the future.
Moderate alcohol consumption has little impact on lifespan, but chronic alcohol abuse significantly increases the risk of kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, and even sudden death. Chronic sleep deprivation weakens the body's immunity, leading to endocrine disorders, which can also affect lifespan.
While lifestyle habits are not the most important factor influencing lifespan, their importance cannot be ignored.
6. Interaction with Healthy Individuals: We often say, "Birds of a feather flock together." In a social environment, unhealthy lifestyle habits of those around us can also influence us. To achieve healthy longevity, we need to be aware of the lifestyle habits of those around us, enhance our self-discipline, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion:
The secret to longevity isn't solely about quitting smoking and drinking; mental health and good social relationships are equally important. Rejecting social interaction hurts not only others but also ourselves. Embracing social connection is the key to a healthy and long life.
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