There are many healthy habits to live regularly that can help encourage a longer life—especially as you age. For example, keep a nutritious diet It is very important to feed your body with all the essential elements that it needs to function properly. Getting a healthy dose of exercise every day will help keep your body in good shape while potentially avoiding any chronic health conditions. But there’s another pretty big thing that has nothing to do with diet or exercise that can help him live longer, especially once he hits 65. He keeps reading to learn more.
According to data from the US Medicare Health Outcomes Survey, men and women between the ages of 65 and 85 may have a longer overall life expectancy if they are married “till death do them part”. That’s how it is!
the to study was conducted by Medicare and published in the journal SSM – Population Health. An example provided in the investigation? Based on the data, married men aged 65 were found to have an average total life expectancy of 18.6 years, which is 2.2 years longer than single men. The female participants studied of the same age (65 years) revealed a total life expectancy of 21.1 years, which is 1.5 years more than being single at 65 years.
Related: The lifestyle habits that delay aging, from a 100-year-old neurologist
More research agrees with the data. The newspaper psychological health states that couples who would consider their marriage to be somewhere between very happy and fairly happy are around 20% less likely to experience an early death (via WEATHER). In fact, they are more likely to live longer than those couples who would consider their marriage “not too happy.”
Why all the positivity from being hooked? Well, it could be for many reasons, according to the study, including a healthier heart and waistline. According to Mark Whisman, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and co-author of this second study, a good marriage appears to improve health. Married people are more likely to encourage some healthy routines, such as exercising, eating healthy, and keeping up with necessary medical checkups. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?
Whisman also points out that supporting each other in a marriage can help people psychologically. Being married “provides people with meaningful roles and identity, a purpose in life, a sense of security,” says Whisman, adding, “Those kinds of psychological factors could influence health.” A strong marriage can improve “mental health and well-being, which we know is associated with physical health.”
Related: What the science says about exercise habits that slow aging
Other research supporting the benefits of marriage? There is a connection between being alone and a higher mortality rate. In Sweden, a study called Swedish Studio Lundby. Of 1,363 participants, 296 people were considered to be living a lonely life. The research involved interviews over a 13-year period. In the study, loneliness was associated overall with a 27% increased risk of mortality.
A teammate for life can be an amazing thing. The key word here is “happy” when it comes to marriage. There is no suggestion that the mere sanctity of marriage will magically solve your problems and help you live longer and better. But if you’re happy with someone at that stage in life, know that having a teammate for life can be a pretty amazing thing, science says!
alexa mellardo
Alexa is the Mind + Body Associate Editor for Eat This, Not That!, overseeing the M+B channel, and providing readers with engaging topics on fitness, wellness, and personal care. read more
