1. Do not smoke (Heavy use of tobacco is ten
times more prevalent among the prematurely dead);
2. Do not drink alcohol excessively (DUI; alcoholism
destroys marriages too);
3. Do not do drugs (Mind-altering, addictive
drugs are life shortening; epidemiological studies of withdrawal reveal that
about half the risk for addiction is inherited in genes controlling the
dopaminergic pathway);
4. Do not gamble (neither casino-style gambling
nor “harmless” Lottos);
5. Do not incur excessive debts (by
continuously spending beyond your means);
6. Remain faithful (to your spouse); or, if not
married, practice “safe sex” (Happy/Well people are six times more
likely to be in a good marriages than Sad/Sick people);
7. Avoid obesity (A major risk factor for
cardiovascular disease);
8. Avoid extreme sports (Sky diving, Bunge
jumping, Race-car driving, Professional football, Boxing, Down-hill skiing, or
Marathon running — all too risky);
9. Avoid auto accidents: Drive defensively, no
speeding, no cell phones on the freeway [not even hands free], wear seat belts,
stay out of heavy traffic, if you can);
10. Do not keep a loaded revolver in the house,
especially if there are children around. If needed, a gun’s ammunition must be
stored separately.
People
who observed four or more of the above restrictions at the age of 50 were
one-third less likely to be dead by age 80.
Persons who ignored three or more by age 50 – even if they were in
otherwise good physical shape were three times as likely to die during the next
30 years [1].
But doesn’t life get to be miserable if one scrupulously follows all these boring
rules? Not really.
Caveat:
Many of the prohibitions in the list above could be characterized as
gratuitous, since proselytizers have been urging us to conform for a long time
and, being largely “common sense,” it doesn’t require much expertise
to recommend them to others. In fact, writing these lists was a little embarrassing for me, lest I be lumped together
with the likes of Dr. Ruth, Dr. Laura, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Ms.
Suzanne Somers, or other assorted new-age gurus of the self-help
establishment. This group is not my favorite.
But don’t forget, I consider these only as a way to “bridge” one’s self
through the next [20 – 30] years, which is what I believe it will take to get
us to the really important scientific breakthroughs that are expected and may
ultimately reverse the aging process at a truly fundamental level. If meaningful discoveries arrive on schedule,
it won’t help us much if we’re not around to enjoy them.
– Written by Dr. L. Stephen Coles, 2012
