Follow these 18 simple rules and you won’t just live longer—you’ll make those (many, many) years count.

1. Stop smoking

1. Stop smoking
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Four years after doing so, your chance of having a heart attack falls to that of someone who has never smoked.

After ten years, your lung cancer risk drops to nearly that of a nonsmoker.

Concerned? See your doctor as techniques for earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer exist.

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2. Exercise daily

2. Exercise daily
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Thirty minutes of activity is all that’s necessary. Three ten-minute walks will do it. Or if you are keen for a run check out this expert advice on the pros and cons of running.

3. Eat your produce

3. Eat your produce
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Fruit, vegetables … whatever your favourites are, just make sure you eat them every day.

This delicious fruit salad is ideal for upping your daily fruit count.

Follow these 18 simple rules and you won’t just live longer—you’ll make those (many, many) years count.

4. Get screened

4. Get screened
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No need to go test-crazy; just get the health screenings recommended for your stage of life.

Check with your doctor to make sure you’re up-to-date.

Just be honest. How much you smoke, drink, eat, exercise and whether you use protection during sex or while out in the sun matters.

5. Make sleep a priority

5. Make sleep a priority
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For most adults who want to live to 100, that means seven to eight hours every night.

If you have a tough time turning off the light, remember that sleep deprivation raises the risk of heart disease, cancer, and more.

We’ve debunked the common untruths surrounding sleep to help you get a good night’s rest.

6. Ask your doctor about low-dose aspirin

6. Ask your doctor about low-dose aspirin
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Heart attack, stroke, even cancer—a single 81 mg tablet per day may fight them all.

(Aspirin comes with risks, though, so don’t start on your own.)

If you’re older, you are at risk from the major problem of over-prescribing.

Follow these 18 simple rules and you won’t just live longer—you’ll make those (many, many) years count.

7. Know your blood pressure numbers

7. Know your blood pressure numbers
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It’s not called the silent killer just to give your life a little more drama.

Keep yours under 120/80 if you want to live to 100.

Keep an eye out for the six sneaky causes of high blood pressure.

8. Stay connected

8. Stay connected
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Loneliness is another form of stress.

Friends, family, and furry pets help you feel loved.

The following seven tools can help you navigate the treacherous shallows as well as the joys of solo living.

9. Cut back on saturated fat

9. Cut back on saturated fat
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It’s the raw material your body uses for producing LDL, bad cholesterol.

For decades, doctors and medical organisations have viewed saturated fat as the raw material for a heart attack.

But newer research has some experts questioning whether we’ve convicted the wrong criminal.

Follow these 18 simple rules and you won’t just live longer—you’ll make those (many, many) years count.

10. Get help for depression

10. Get help for depression
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It doesn’t just feel bad; it does bad things to your body.

In fact, when tacked onto diabetes and heart disease, it increases risk of early death by as much as 30 percent.

Here’s 10 surprising ways to be happier without really trying.

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