It's never too late

If you're a couch potato, take heart! It's never too late to begin living an active, healthy lifestyle. Research shows that people who were active in their 70s are more likely to live into their 90s. In the study, men who didn't smoke, had normal blood pressure, maintained a healthy weight, didn't have diabetes, and exercised two-four times a week had a 54% chance of living to their 90s. A sedentary lifestyle reduced their chance of living to their 90s to 44%.

In a complimentary study, over 700 people age 97 or older were studied. The study found that whether people developed certain diseases (such as high blood pressure) early or later in life didn't really matter. What made a bigger difference in their lifespan was how effectively they managed their conditions and how healthy of a lifestyle they lived.

Even if you haven't chosen to live an active, healthy lifestyle it's never too late to start. Avoiding health issues you don't have and managing any conditions you do have is the way to live a long and healthy life.