What are some ways to increase my chances of a longer life?

Want to add 10 years to your life? No smoking and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure in safe ranges may be health habits well worth the trouble. A research study at Northwestern University Medical School on over 360,000 people, showed that those who didn't smoke, and kept their cholesterol below 200, and blood pressure no higher than 120 over 80, had a life expectancy that was six to 10 years longer than people who were less careful about their health habits.

Reference: Journal of the American Medical Association, December 1, 1999, as reported in CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter, March 2000; and Health Promotion Practitioner, January 2000.

Brenda Bell, Human Environmental Sciences Specialist, South Central Region, University Outreach & Extension