By Brent Franson, Founder at Death Clock
In 2025, adopting a proactive and preventive approach to your health can lead to meaningful steps toward increasing your longevity and extending your healthspan. Here are five actionable tips to help you live longer and thrive in the year ahead:
- Embrace the Inevitable: We’re all going to die. It’s just a matter of when. Surprisingly, studies show that accepting the finite nature of life can lead to healthier choices—like staying active, eating better, and getting check-ups on time. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that individuals who regularly contemplate their mortality are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors. Specifically, mortality salience was associated with a 15% increase in the adoption of healthier lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and improved diet.
- Know Your Biomarkers: Keep track of critical health indicators like cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Understanding your numbers—whether they’re in a safe zone or edging into danger—empowers you to make informed choices about diet, exercise, and medical follow-ups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effectively managing high blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 27%.
- Identify Your Most Likely Cause of Death—and Address It. Let’s not mince words: no one gets out of this alive. For many middle-aged adults, heart disease is the biggest killer. If you’re a heavy smoker, lung cancer could be your top threat. If you have a family history of Type 2 diabetes, that may be your main concern. By pinpointing the condition that’s statistically most likely to take you out, you can take proactive steps—like adjusting your diet, quitting smoking, or seeing specialists—to delay or prevent that fate. The American Heart Association reports that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 697,000 deaths annually.
- Stay On Top of Screenings: Regular screenings are one of the most effective ways to detect disease early or prevent it altogether. Whether it’s a mammogram, colonoscopy, or another recommended screening for your age, gender, and family history, stay current with medical guidelines and keep those appointments. The National Cancer Institute highlights that routine screenings can reduce cancer mortality rates by up to 30%.
- Get a Calcium Scan if You’re Over 40: Calcium scans detect plaque in your arteries—a key indicator of heart disease. They’re affordable, quick, and non-invasive but are often overlooked by doctors (and rarely covered by insurance). If you’re 40 or older, speak up and request one. This small step can give you a major advantage in catching heart disease early. According to the American College of Cardiology, adding a coronary calcium scan to traditional risk assessments can improve the prediction of heart disease risk by up to 20%.
Longevity is about improving both the length and quality of your life. By proactively managing your health and addressing key risk factors, you can make meaningful strides toward a healthier future. Implement these five tips to take control of your well-being in 2025.
