The Longevity Quiz
What's the secret to a long, healthy life? The secret is that it depends on you. You
can take steps to keep yourself healthy in the long run. Find out what you know about
living longer by taking this true-false quiz.
1. To reduce your risk for chronic disease as an adult, you need to exercise at least
2 hours a day.
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The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans say that you should get at least 150
minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise. Or you should get 75 minutes a week
of vigorous exercise. Either of these will give you health benefits. You can break
up your activity into chunks of at least 10 minutes each and spread them throughout
the week. You should start slowly and build up gradually. Even if you can’t do this
much activity, you should be as physically active as your abilities and conditions
allow. Check with your healthcare provider before increasing or changing your activity
level.
2. A healthy older lifestyle doesn't include smoking.
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Even if you smoke now, it’s not too late to quit. Even people who stop smoking as
older adults can see improved health. Shortness of breath gets better in 1 to 12 months.
Heart attack risk drops sharply by a lot within 1 to 2 years. And stroke risk is greatly
reduced within 5 to 10 years. The risk for many cancers falls within 5 to 10 years
of quitting. Ask your healthcare provider for help quitting.
3. What you eat plays a major role in your health.
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Eating a balanced diet is important. Include lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains every day. For a more detailed look at what you should eat—and how much you
should eat—visit the USDA's MyPlate website at www.myplate.gov.
4. As long as your diet is balanced, you don't need to worry about those few extra
pounds you have put on.
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It's important to maintain a healthy weight. Even if they eat well and exercise regularly,
people who are severely overweight or obese are more likely to have health problems.
These include some forms of cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis.
5. You should make your health a priority in your life.
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Even simple acts like wearing your seat belt or getting pneumonia vaccines and a yearly
flu shot may help prevent injury and illness.
6. Your job kept you on your toes mentally. Now that you're retired, you can relax
those mental gymnastics.
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You should continue to challenge your mind no matter what your age. The gradual decline
in short-term memory often linked to aging may be eased with daily mental challenges.
7. Now that you're older, it's too much work to keep up with friends. Friends are
for younger people.
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You should continue to invest time in your relationships. People who stay connected
to their community, family, and friends may live longer and more fulfilling lives
than their more isolated peers.
8. A positive attitude may help you live longer.
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A strong belief in yourself and your ability to deal with situations can help you
cope with stress. It is an important element in keeping your independence.
9. Even if you are 60 or older, you should still make plans for your financial future.
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If you are 60, you could live 20, 30, or 40 more years. Allocate your resources accordingly.
Get professional advice on the best strategies to optimize the benefits due to you
for your Social Security contributions over your working years.
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