From the moment of birth, it is clear, we slowly die. But there are things that speed up that process. This does not mean that some of these things should be completely eliminated, but the fact is that they can seriously affect health.
- You have a hard time finding love
If you have difficulty finding a partner, it can shorten your life by a few months, but if you are alone for a long time, it can cost you a whole decade. The latter refers to those who have never married. Namely, one study showed that this way you increase the risk of death by 32 percent.
- Sit a lot
You can lose two full years of your life just by sitting for more than three hours a day. An Australian study showed that even regular exercise cannot reduce the potentially negative effects of sitting for long hours.
Another study found that sitting for more than 11 hours a day increased the risk of death by 40 percent in the next three years, compared to sitting for less than four hours a day.
- You neglect your friends
People with weaker social ties have a higher mortality rate, research has shown. Prolonged loneliness can be as bad for life expectancy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
On the other hand, it has been shown that older people with a larger circle of friends are 22 percent less likely to die, and social connections generally have a positive effect on brain health.
- You vegetate in front of the TV
Just two hours a day in front of a TV screen can lead to premature death, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The negative effects of watching TV are compounded by excessive sitting. According to some estimates, every hour in front of the TV after the age of 25 shortens life by 21,8 minutes.
- You are eating unhealthy
It may seem obvious, but the fact is that many of us do not give up junk food. Fast-food, processed food, cured meat products, white bread and above all red meat, which shortens life expectancy by about 20 percent when eaten in excessive amounts.
- You are still looking for a job
Unemployment can increase the risk of premature death by 63 percent, according to a Canadian study that spanned 40 years and included 20 million people in 15 countries. Another study showed that among white women, the most common factors associated with earlier death are smoking and unemployment. It has also been shown that older people who lose their jobs in a recession can have a shorter life expectancy by three years.
- You have a long commute
Commuting for about an hour increases stress and is associated with the same negative effects as sitting. A long commute also reduces your chances of participating in activities that are good for your health. Women who travel 50 or more kilometers to work have the greatest risk. A Swedish study linked long commutes to obesity, insomnia and higher divorce rates.
- Sexual drought
A study conducted on men showed that the inability to experience orgasm for a long period of time can cause mortality up to 50 percent higher compared to those who have regular orgasms. This is the case even when other factors, such as smoking, age or social status, are taken away. On the other hand, orgasms are associated with a large number of health benefits.
- Bad relationship with colleagues
Lack of social support from work colleagues can be a strong indicator of premature mortality risk, according to research from Tel Aviv University. Although encouragement from bosses and supervisors had no effect on life expectancy, those who had poor relationships with coworkers were 2,4 times more likely to die during the study.
- You sleep too little or too much
Research has shown that life expectancy is shortened if a person sleeps an average of less than five or more than nine hours a night. Chronic lack of sleep is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some types of cancer, dementia, cognitive problems, obesity and earlier death. According to one theory, we need an average of eight hours of sleep to function optimally, but one study showed that anything more than seven hours of sleep is not beneficial for health.
- You are afraid of death or that you will not live as long as you would like
The painful paradox is that fear of death shortens life expectancy. A recent study of cancer patients showed that life expectancy was shortened in patients who feared death.
In those who do not suffer from a terminal illness, intense fear of death increases the risk of cardiovascular disease three to five times. Mild fear has a positive effect because it affects the increase in physical activity and the desire for a healthy life.
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