What is the secret to having a long life?

What is the secret to having a long life? If I excercise every day and take very good care of myself will it prolong my life or is it just chance?

You can do things to help prolong your life..like not take unnecessary risks, healthy diet, exercise, don't smoke or drink excessively, have a positive attitude and belief in Christ but death can still come when you have done all you can to deter it ..it can come in the form of freakish accidents or illnesses..life is a gift that is given and you can determine your quality of life but you cannot always determine its outcomes and when or how it will be taken away..so continue to take care of yourself..and be prepared for death at any time.

And another thing, keep your stress down, because that is one of the leading causes to serious illness, which is one of the leading causes of DEATAH. Don't smoke either and if ur over like 35, there's a bunch of tests u need to take yearly, one is a pap smear. You should also see your doctor and if there are any illnesses that are common in ur family, u should have regular screening for them too. Well, that'll pretty much maximis ur life span, whatever happens from there is outta ur control.

Dear feline1,
What a great question. If we had the answer it would no longer be a secret right. I know people who smoked, drank, and lived a rowdy like style and lived to be in their 90s. I also have lost good friends who died in car accidents and a non-smoking, clean-living friend who died from cancer at a young age. We should be asking how can we live the best life for the time we have to live however long that would be. I think the simple answer is to treat yourself and others with respect, dignity and be non-judgmental of others. It's the quality not the quantity that truly counts.
Sue....good luck

Yeah, that's true as well, my great grandmother was a heavy partier, smoker and drinker, and she lived to 94! I mean she had a real rough life, husband dead when her kids were young, fighting in the home, it just goes to show that taking care of yourself won't guarentee a long life and not taking care of yourself won't guarentee a short one. That's not the norm and you should do your best to keep on top of things, but life is so fragile, there's really know way to guarentee a long one. Good luck!

the older generation that smoked likechimneys smoked straight tobacco for most of their lives..not with the poisonous additive chemicals of our generation..we live in a far more toxic society now than they ever did so you cannot really compare lifestyles

To live a long life, eat right, get plenty of rest, try not to stress, don't take unnecessary risks, avoid extreme sports, and generally try to stay safe. Doesn't always work, but it's one way to do it. Good luck!