The best thing you can do to increase your chances of living longer is to stay socially active. It may increase your chances of a longer life by up to 50%, compared with someone who lives alone and is isolated. That’s an average figure though, and researchers say the figure  could be as high as 62%

It’s one of the things that doctors don’t mention when when they advise patients about keeping healthy into their old age. All the things like exercising, healthy diet or losing weight have obvious health benefits too, but social interaction is top of the list!!

The importance of social connection was first noticed many years ago among children in orpahanages and custodial care. Those  who had little or no human contact died younger irrespective of age or health.

The next worst thing for your health is smoking. If you become a non-smoker you increase your chances of a healthy old age by a further 52%.

So it’s quite clear. If you want to live a long and healthy life, make plenty of friends and get out as much as you can !!