5 Tips to increase life expectancy

Want to live a longer life?

A seven-year study from Vitality highlighted that Vitality members who went from an inactive lifestyle to an active one, reduced their mortality risk by up to 57%.

All health insurance providers, such as Vitality, AXA, Aviva, Bupa and The Exeter provide support in their policies to help their customers live a healthier lifestyle. 

This includes a range of benefits to support policyholders, such as discounted gym memberships, rewards schemes and health and well-being advice.

The study highlighted that those who exercised five days a week saw the biggest improvements, but even getting active one or two days a week still increased life expectancy. Starting with small lifestyle changes can contribute to health benefits.

What is the life expectancy in the UK?

As of 2022, the life expectancy in the UK is currently 78.6 years for males and 82.6 for females.

In 1900 the life expectancy from birth was 46.81 years, meaning it has doubled thanks to changes in lifestyle. A decline in smoking, more nutrition knowledge, improved sanitation and improvements in living standards have played a role in increasing life expectancy.

There are lifestyle changes we can make to help increase our life expectancy, take a look at our five tips to help live a longer, healthier life...

1. Adopt a healthy lifestyle

As the study has shown, engaging in regular physical activity and increasing the amount of exercise you do has been linked to a longer life.

A healthy balanced diet can also help to increase life expectancy by providing cells with energy and nutrients to function properly.

A healthy lifestyle should also go beyond regular exercise and eating well. Maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and having a moderate alcohol intake can all contribute to improving health and overall life expectancy.

As healthy lifestyles can reduce the risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, it can, in turn, result in a longer and healthier life. 

2. Stay social

Socialising is a great way to improve life expectancy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) people lacking social connections face a higher risk of early death. 

Social isolation can also be linked to health issues such as anxiety, depression, dementia and increased risk of stroke. People suffering from loneliness may spend less time outdoors or less time being active, which would contribute to a lack of vitamin D and serotonin. 

The more people feel support around them, the better their health and life expectancy. 

3. Prioritise sleep

It’s great to know that something as simple as sleep can help to improve our life expectancy. But it's important to get it right to reap the rewards.

Sleep is essential for restoring our energy levels and getting us rested for a new day. The ideal hours of sleep for an adult is between 7 and 9 hours a night.

It's important to make sure we get good quality sleep to benefit our health.

Sleep contributes to a longer life expectancy thanks to its ability to lower blood pressure, reduce the risks of diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.

According to Bupa, lack of sleep can lead to inflammation, causing fatty deposits to build up in your arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease.

Poor sleep also causes the levels of sugar in your blood to increase, which can cause diabetes - a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Getting enough good quality sleep helps to reduce the risk of health conditions, ultimately leading to a longer and healthier life.

It's important to note that beyond these benefits, prioritising sleep hygiene also affects the rest of our lives. For example, when we're well rested we have more energy and motivation to engage in physical activity, we eat better and have a better mood in general. Take a look at our seven tips to improve sleep quality.

4. Manage stress

Managing stress can improve longevity by reducing the negative effects of stress on the body.

Chronic stress can accelerate the aging process and increase the risk of disease. It can also cause the body to stay on high alert, even after the stressor has ended.

Cortisol is a stress hormone, that is naturally released from our adrenal glands. Persistently elevated levels of cortisol can negatively affect brain function.

A study by Yale found that chronic stress can shorten lifespan and reduce longevity. According to their findings, stress can contribute to faster ageing by accelerating the biological clock.

It's important to try to deal with stress where we can to help lead a healthier life. Some stress managing tips include: getting active, connecting with people, meditation, participating in social activities with family and friends, practicing self-care and taking time out to relax and unwind.

5. Invest in your health

It's clear that adopting a healthy lifestyle and habits have been proven to help longevity and investing in your health can help you to take control of your overall health and well-being.

Health insurance is a great way to invest in your health with a wide range of benefits available to help you improve your lifestyle.

How can health insurance contribute to a healthy lifestyle?

• Access to discounted gym memberships and fitness products
• Quicker access to GP appointments, with digital GPs available 24/7
• Access to breakthrough cancer drugs and treatments
• Optional mental health, optical and dental cover add-ons
• Skipping NHS waiting lists and faster access to treatment
• Some health insurers offer health assessments - understand your health and identify potential risks early.

Usay Compare offers expert advice to help you find the right health insurance policy for you, including those who can best support you to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Whenever you’re ready to find your policy, our advisers will be ready to support you. You can fill out a quote and await a call from our team or get started now and give us a call on: 01285 864670