| The last thing most people think about when they're | | | | Sleeping six to seven hours per night seems to be the |
| young is their life expectancy. During your youthful | | | | best amount of sleep for people who want to |
| years, most people feel like they're going to live | | | | increase their life expectancy. |
| forever. It's difficult to imagine reaching the end of your | | | | Living In The Country |
| life when you're so full of life. However, when reaching | | | | The pollution, stress, and rigors of living in the city can |
| the golden years, it seems time goes by much quicker | | | | contribute to a lower life expectancy. People living in |
| and many people start thinking about how they can | | | | rural areas usually live longer than people living in the |
| make time last just a little longer. The good news is | | | | city do. Contributing factors include a closeness to |
| there are ways to lengthen your life and they are | | | | green living plants and nature along with the slower |
| simpler than you might think. | | | | pace common in a country setting. The phrase, "getting |
| Laughing To Live | | | | away from it all," just might be on the mark as those |
| Numerous research studies have found that the old | | | | living in rural areas typically extend their life by years. |
| saying, "laughter is the best medicine," is true. Laughing | | | | If extending your life expectancy is a serious matter |
| raises your endorphins and increases the | | | | for you, you can do some other things to help. Good |
| effectiveness of T-cells and your immune system | | | | eating habits and getting exercise regularly are part of |
| while lowering your stress hormones, including | | | | living a healthy lifestyle that can dramatically increase |
| dopamine, cortisol, and epinephrine. | | | | your life expectancy. In addition, regardless of whether |
| In addition to being a great physical release, laughing | | | | you visit a doctor or dentist, Grosse Pointe, or |
| offers a benefit to your psychological health. Having | | | | anywhere else, always schedule regular checkups with |
| poor psychological health can result in depression and | | | | your doctor and dentist to make sure you diagnose |
| negative habits, actions, and thoughts that endanger | | | | any potential problems early. Successful treatment |
| your overall health. In fact, just laughing 100 to 200 | | | | often relies on early diagnosis so staying on top of |
| times can equal the same effect as jogging or rowing | | | | your physical and dental health helps. Always |
| for ten minutes, offering a workout that is much more | | | | communicate with your doctor or dentist honestly |
| fun. Laughing can add years to your life. | | | | about any problems, symptoms, or pain you |
| Sleeping The Right Amount | | | | experience. Living a lifestyle with life expectancy in |
| The Archives of General Psychiatry reports that | | | | mind is the best way to ensure a long life. |
| getting more than eight hours of sleep each night | | | | The most important gift you have ever received is |
| reduces your overall life expectancy. However, don't | | | | your life. Get plenty of rest, but not too much, take |
| stay up all night yet, because not getting enough sleep | | | | care of your body, and find the humor in life and you'll |
| can also have the same effect. People sleeping fewer | | | | be on your way to extending your life expectancy by |
| than four hours per night have the same death rate as | | | | years. |
| people who sleep more than eight hours per night. | | | | |