Many people think that life expectancy is largely determined by genetics.

However, genes play a much smaller role than originally believed. It turns out that environmental factors like diet and lifestyle are key.

Here are 13 habits linked to a long life.

The link between calorie intake and longevity currently generates a lot of interest.

Animal studies suggest that a 1050% reduction in normal calorie intake may increase maximum lifespan (1).

Studies of human populations renowned for longevity also observe links between low calorie intake, an extended lifespan, and a lower likelihood of disease (2, 3, 4).

What's more, calorie restriction may help reduce excess body weight and belly fat, both of which are associated with shorter lifespans (5, 6, 7).

That said, long-term calorie restriction is often unsustainable and can include negative side effects, such as increased hunger, low body temperature, and a diminished sex drive (3).

Whether calorie restriction slows aging or extends your lifespan is not yet fully understood.

Nuts are nutritional powerhouses.

They're rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds. Whats more, theyre a great source of several vitamins and minerals, such as copper, magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin, and vitamins B6 and E (8).

Several studies show that nuts have beneficial effects on heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, belly fat levels, and even some forms of cancer (9, 10, 11, 12).

One study found that people who consumed at least 3 servings of nuts per week had a 39% lower risk of premature death (13).

Similarly, two recent reviews including over 350,000 people noted that those who ate nuts had a 427% lower risk of dying during the study period with the greatest reductions seen in those who ate 1 serving of nuts per day (14, 15).

When it comes to anti-aging strategies, turmeric is a great option. Thats because this spice contains a potent bioactive compound called curcumin.

Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin is thought to help maintain brain, heart, and lung function, as well as protect against cancers and age-related diseases (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22).

Curcumin is linked to an increased lifespan in both insects and mice (23, 24, 25).

However, these findings have not always been replicated, and no human studies are currently available (26, 27).

Nevertheless, turmeric has been consumed for thousands of years in India and is generally considered safe.

Consuming a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans, may decrease disease risk and promote longevity.

For example, many studies link a plant-rich diet to a lower risk of premature death, as well as a reduced risk of cancer, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, depression, and brain deterioration (28, 29, 30, 31).

These effects are attributed to plant foods nutrients and antioxidants, which include polyphenols, carotenoids, folate, and vitamin C (32).

Accordingly, several studies link vegetarian and vegan diets, which are naturally higher in plant foods, to a 1215% lower risk of premature death (33, 34).

The same studies also report a 2952% lower risk of dying from cancer or heart, kidney, or hormone-related diseases (33, 34).

Whats more, some research suggests that the risk of premature death and certain diseases increases with greater meat consumption (35, 36, 37).

However, other studies report either nonexistent or much weaker links with the negative effects seeming specifically linked to processed meat (38, 39).

Vegetarians and vegans also generally tend to be more health-conscious than meat eaters, which could at least partly explain these findings.

Overall, eating plenty of plant foods is likely to benefit health and longevity.

It should come as no surprise that staying physically active can keep you healthy and add years to your life (40).

As few as 15 minutes of exercise per day may help you achieve benefits, which could include an additional 3 years of life (41).

Furthermore, your risk of premature death may decrease by 4% for each additional 15 minutes of daily physical activity (41).

A recent review observed a 22% lower risk of early death in individuals who exercised even though they worked out less than the recommended 150 minutes per week (42).

People who hit the 150-minute recommendation were 28% less likely to die early. What's more, that number was 35% for those who exercised beyond this guidance (42).

Finally, some research links vigorous activity to a 5% greater reduction in risk compared to low- or moderate-intensity activities (43).

Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death (44).

Overall, people who smoke may lose up to 10 years of life and be 3 times more likely to die prematurely than those who never pick up a cigarette (45).

Keep in mind that it's never too late to quit.

One study reports that individuals who quit smoking by age 35 may prolong their lives by up to 8.5 years (46).

Furthermore, quitting smoking in your 60s may add up to 3.7 years to your life. In fact, quitting in your 80s may still provide benefits (44, 46).

Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to liver, heart, and pancreatic disease, as well as an overall increased risk of early death (47).

However, moderate consumption is associated with a reduced likelihood of several diseases, as well as a 1718% decrease in your risk of premature death (47, 48).

Wine is considered particularly beneficial due to its high content of polyphenol antioxidants.

Results from a 29-year study showed that men who preferred wine were 34% less likely to die early than those who preferred beer or spirits (49).

In addition, one review observed wine to be especially protective against heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and metabolic syndrome (50).

To keep consumption moderate, it is recommended that women aim for 12 units or less per day and a maximum of 7 per week. Men should keep their daily intake to less than 3 units, with a maximum of 14 per week (51).

It's important to note that no strong research indicates that the benefits of moderate drinking are greater than those of abstaining from alcohol.

In other words, there is no need to start drinking if you don't usually consume alcohol.

Feeling happy can significantly increase your longevity (52).

In fact, happier individuals had a 3.7% reduction in early death over a 5-year study period (53).

A study of 180 Catholic nuns analyzed their self-reported levels of happiness when they first entered the monastery and later compared these levels to their longevity.

Those who felt happiest at 22 years of age were 2.5 times more likely to still be alive six decades later (54).

Finally, a review of 35 studies showed that happy people may live up to 18% longer than their less happy counterparts (55).

Anxiety and stress may significantly decrease your lifespan.

For instance, women suffering from stress or anxiety are reportedly up to two times more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer (56, 57, 58).

Similarly, the risk of premature death is up to three times higher for anxious or stressed men compared to their more relaxed counterparts (59, 60, 61).

If you're feeling stressed, laughter and optimism could be two key components of the solution.

Studies show that pessimistic individuals have a 42% higher risk of early death than more optimistic people. However, both laughter and a positive outlook on life can reduce stress, potentially prolonging your life (62, 63, 64, 65).

Researchers report that maintaining healthy social networks can help you live up to 50% longer (66).

In fact, having just 3 social ties may decrease your risk of early death by more than 200% (67).

Studies also link healthy social networks to positive changes in heart, brain, hormonal, and immune function, which may decrease your risk of chronic diseases (68, 69, 70, 71, 72).

A strong social circle might also help you react less negatively to stress, perhaps further explaining the positive effect on lifespan (73, 74).

Finally, one study reports that providing support to others may be more beneficial than receiving it. In addition to accepting care from your friends and family, make sure to return the favor (75).

Conscientiousness refers to a person's ability to be self-disciplined, organized, efficient, and goal-oriented.

Based on data from a study that followed 1,500 boys and girls into old age, kids who were considered persistent, organized, and disciplined lived 11% longer than their less conscientious counterparts (76, 77).

Conscientious people may also have lower blood pressure and fewer psychiatric conditions, as well as a lower risk of diabetes and heart or joint problems (78).

This might be partly because conscientious individuals are less likely to take dangerous risks or react negatively to stress and more likely to lead successful professional lives or be responsible about their health (79, 80, 81).

Conscientiousness can be developed at any stage in life through steps as small as tidying up a desk, sticking to a work plan, or being on time.

Both coffee and tea are linked to a decreased risk of chronic disease.

For instance, the polyphenols and catechins found in green tea may decrease your risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (82, 83, 84, 85, 86).

Similarly, coffee is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers and brain ailments, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92).

Additionally, both coffee and tea drinkers benefit from a 2030% lower risk of early death compared to non-drinkers (93, 94, 95, 96).

Just remember that too much caffeine can also lead to anxiety and insomnia, so you may want to curb your intake to the recommended limit of 400 mg per day around 4 cups of coffee (97, 98).

It's also worth noting that it generally takes six hours for caffeine's effects to subside. Therefore, if you have trouble getting enough high-quality sleep, you may want to shift your intake to earlier in the day.

Sleep is crucial for regulating cell function and helping your body heal.

A recent study reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day (99).

Sleep duration also seems to be a factor, with both too little and too much being harmful.

For instance, sleeping less than 57 hours per night is linked to a 12% greater risk of early death, while sleeping more than 89 hours per night could also decrease your lifespan by up to 38% (100, 101).

Too little sleep may also promote inflammation and increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. These are all linked to a shortened lifespan (102, 103, 104, 105).

On the other hand, excessive sleep could be linked to depression, low physical activity, and undiagnosed health conditions, all of which may negatively affect your lifespan (106).

Longevity may seem beyond your control, but many healthy habits may lead you to a ripe, old age.

These include drinking coffee or tea, exercising, getting enough sleep, and limiting your alcohol intake.

Taken together, these habits can boost your health and put you on the path to a long life.

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13 Habits Linked to a Long Life (Backed by Science)

FROM 1960 till 2020, there has been a 28-fold increase in the number of centenarians. The path to longevity is strewn with false promises of expensive elixirs, exotic supplements, and stem cell rejuvenation. Human longevity is a complex interplay between the genes, the environment and lifestyle.

Genes and longevity

The study of human longevity genes is a developing science. Scientists estimate that between 15 and 30 per cent of the variation in human life span is determined by genes, but it is not clearly understood which genes are relevant, and how they contribute to longevity. In 2015, Ancestry, a genealogy and genetics company, partnered Calico, a Google spinoff, to study data from more than 54 million families and their family trees representing six billion ancestors, and were able to tease out a set of pedigrees that included over 400 million people. These individuals were connected to one another by either a parent-child or a spouse-spouse relationship.

In 2018, they published their results in Genetics, a journal of the Genetics Society of America. The study found that the lifespan of spouses were more similar and better correlated than in siblings of opposite gender. The study concluded that life span heritability is likely 7 per cent or less, and hence the contribution of genes to longevity is even lower.

Although genes seem to have only a small influence on lifespan, they appear to play a larger role in centenarians. Hence, there are a few genetic factors that do give you a headstart in the journey to longevity.

Being a first-degree relative of a centenarian makes it more likely for you to remain healthy longer and to live to an older age than your peers. First-degree relatives are less likely at age 70 years to have the age-related diseases that are common among older adults.

Women generally live longer than men , and the number of female centenarians is more than fourfold higher than that of male centenarians. It is thought that this is due to a combination of social and biological factors. Studies on mammals and Korean eunuchs has shown that the removal of testosterone at a young age was correlated with an increase in lifespan.

Genetic studies show that centenarians have a lower genetic risk of having heart disease, stroke , high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease and decreased bone mineral density. A study on Chinese centenarians published in 2013 showed that 55 per cent have normal systolic blood pressure, 82 per cent had normal diastolic blood pressure and less than 20 per cent were on long term medication. Hence, centenarians appear to have genes that reduce that risk of age-related chronic illnesses.

Biological clock

Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. One of the major mechanisms in which epigenetics manifest itself is by the process of DNA methylation, which involves the chemical modification of the DNA, thereby modifying the gene function and expression.

Through this process, certain genes can be silenced or activated and potentially impact age-related diseases such as cancer, osteoarthritis, and neurodegeneration. The biological or epigenetic clock in centenarians show a decrease in DNA methylation age, indicating that they are biologically younger than their chronological age. There is also data to suggest that although circadian rhythms deteriorate during ageing, they seem to be well preserved in centenarians, including preserved sleep quality.

Environment and longevity

Environmental factors have a large impact on longevity. Better living environment, clean food, clean water, good sanitation, reduction of infectious diseases, and access to better healthcare have resulted in significant improvement in human longevity.

Using Italy as an example of the impact of a better living environment, the average life expectancy went up from 29 years in 1861 to 84 years in 2020. The number of centenarians in Italy increased from 165 in 1951 to more than 15,000 in 2011, and the incidence of deaths occurring in those less than 60 years of age, decreased from 74 per cent in 1872 to less than 10 per cent in 2011 .

The continuous increase in lifespan in recent decades is mainly due to the advances in medical science. It is estimated that medical advances have allowed an increase in lifespan of five years in the last two decades and additional two years in the last decade.

When comparing two countries at different stages of development in 1950, the average life expectancy increase of 11 years from 68 years in 1950 to 79 years in 2020 in the USA, which was more developed in 1950, was much less remarkable than the increase of 3114 years in average life expectancy from 43 years in 1950 to 77 years in 2020 in China, which was less developed in 1950. The significant improvement in the living environment in China has contributed to the narrowing in the average life expectancy between those living in the US and China.

Lifestyle and longevity

In addition to environmental factors, lifestyle factors have an important impact on longevity. A study of more than 300,000 individuals over 7.5 years showed that individuals with social relationships have more than 50 per cent greater probability of survival compared with those with few and poor social interactions.

A study on centenarians in Utah in the US between 2008 and 2015 suggested that sleep, life satisfaction and social attachment were significant predictors of days lived. There is an extricable linkage between lifestyle and socioeconomic status. The term socioeconomic status as used in longevity studies encompass all the factors that can impact longevity including wealth, geography, education, occupation, ethnicity, cultural environment, neighbourhood environment, quality of healthcare and quality of diet. It is well established that the socioeconomic status of an individual will have a major impact on health and longevity.

A study on more than 120, 000 individuals by researchers from Harvard, published in the Circulation journal in April 2018, identified five low-risk lifestyle factors for increased life expectancy. They were: no smoking, non obese ( body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2), exercise (at least 30 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, including brisk walking), low-risk alcohol consumption (5 to 15 gm/day for women and 5 to 30 gm/day for men), and a high score for healthy diet.

In this study, the projected life expectancy at age 50 years was on average 14.0 years longer among female Americans with five low-risk factors compared with those with zero low-risk factors; for men, the difference was 12.2 years.

These findings are consistent with a study on Chinese centenarians in which less than 20 per cent were smokers and less than 40 per cent drank alcohol. Hence, in general, most centenarians do not smoke, do not drink alcohol or are low-risk alcohol drinkers, are sociable, friendly, cope well with stress, are satisfied with life, have healthy diets and sleep well.

In summary, the main drivers of longevity in the first eight decades of life are the socioeconomic environment and lifestyle choices. Beyond the eighties, the inheritance of genes that defer age-related chronic diseases and a younger biological clock will help to propel these individuals beyond a hundred years.

This series is produced on alternate Saturdays in collaboration with Singapore Medical Specialists Centre

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How to live to 100 - Business Times

Youd be forgiven for writing off Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a typical freak-of-the-week procedural early in its run. At its launch, its premise was simple: follow the missions of a team of agents from the awkwardly named Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, an intelligence agency with global reach, as they investigate enhanced beings and unusual gadgets. Its formula was familiar, akin to old Syfy staples like Eureka and Warehouse 13. But by the closing episodes of its first season, this premise was blown up along with the eponymous organization, which was dismantled from within by rogue agents and labeled a terrorist group by the U.S. government. And what emerged from the rubble was a fundamentally different show.

Over the course of six seasons, S.H.I.E.L.D. has evolved into a science-fiction fantasia, what one character describes as a fifth-dimensional freak show, exploring human mutation, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, space exploration, time travel, and even magic (a.k.a. unexplained science, as agents Fitz and Simmons would say). In its previous season, it became a full-blown space opera, equipped with aerial shots of spaceship fleets and the gaseous surfaces of distant planets, not to mention two alien species intent on invading Earth. And when S.H.I.E.L.D. returns for its seventh and final season tonight, it will continue to be a different show from the one that premiered in the fall of 2013. Promotional material promises more time travel, more threats of alien colonization, and more life-model decoys, but its too early to determine where this new mission will take the agents geographically, emotionally, or even temporally the season begins in 1930s New York, but the likelihood of it staying there for long is slim. So whether you wandered away from the show during its first year or some time in a subsequent season, now is a good time to revisit how its reconfigured itself over the years.

What makes the evolution of S.H.I.E.L.D created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen intriguing is not merely that it touches on numerous science-fiction tropes or that it has graduated from episodic to more serialized storytelling over the years. Nor is it the fact that it holds the distinction of being the first show to bring the shared universe of the MCU to the small screen and has subsequently outlasted other Marvel projects scattered across Netflix and Disney-owned ABC, Freeform, and Hulu. (Its the last show produced by Marvel Television under Jeph Loeb, the studio having since folded under the Kevin Feigeheaded Marvel Studios.) No, whats most fascinating about S.H.I.E.L.D. as it enters its endgame is how its committed to the practice of essentially adopting a new subgenre every ten or so episodes, particularly later in its run, which breaks its 22-episode seasons into multi-episode arcs. So while much of season one is a spy procedural, the first half of season four is a ghost story. And around the time Dolores Abernathy began questioning the nature of her reality on Westworld, S.H.I.E.L.D. became a robot thriller, with A.I.D.A., a life-model decoy created to protect field agents, searching for a way to achieve her own humanity in the second half of season four. The series bounds from one subgenre to the next at such rapidity that theres barely time to to wrap your mind around one concept before its on to the next, with characters openly decrying the pace at which the team faces new trials and tribulations. But this breakneck speed also means that there are few filler episodes, allowing the show to maintain its momentum within and between seasons.

Thats not to say that there are no periods of downtime, moments in which, usually after the defeat of some megalomaniac, the agents can recline and enjoy each others company. Because for all of its superhuman phenomena, S.H.I.E.L.D. foregrounds human connection and the capacity of humans to do right by each other. The found-family sentiment is as prevalent here as it is on other long-running workplace-based shows if not more so, since the agents live, work, and regularly face their mortality together. This is particularly true of the relationship between Phillip J. Coulson (Clark Gregg), the team patriarch, a man who has given his life to S.H.I.E.L.D. in every sense, and Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennet), an orphan whos spent her life searching for her family, only to be traumatized by the truth of her origin.

As the best science-fiction dramas tend to do, S.H.I.E.L.D. grounds its fantastic elements with real emotion. And its marriage of the two is so successful that in season five, which features Inhuman fighting pits and insatiable space roaches, its the civil war that erupts within the team that foments the greatest tension. The question of whether to allow Coulson to die, if saving his life could mean the destruction of Earth, seems easy enough to answer: Whats one mans life when the world hangs in the balance? But the agents are so dedicated to each other and to their mission that, for some, it does become a dilemma, yet another hard choice for people used to making hard choices, having already endured years of personal sacrifice to stave off near-annual extinction-level threats.

After scoring two unexpected season renewals (its no coincidence that the season-five finale is called The End), S.H.I.E.L.D. is going out on its own terms with season seven, a coveted planned conclusion in a television landscape rife with sudden cancellations. Fittingly, the show that originally brought the world of the MCU to the small screen will also serve as an outro to the cinematic universes first phase in television, as Marvel Studios ushers in a new phase with a slew of series produced for Disney+, set to begin rolling out later this year. S.H.I.E.L.D.s longevity is no doubt partly due to its penchant for reinvention, its ability to explode the scope of its storytelling season after season. But while the show has come a remarkably long way from its pilot, with the core group of agents now bouncing around the past, the characters ever-deepening devotion to each other has served as an emotional through line, a constant for the characters (and viewers) to hold on to as the narrative rapidly changes around them. And now, with their final adventure about to begin, theres no better time to join the team.

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Never Stopped Reinventing Itself - Vulture

Turning 100 was a walk in the park for Ruth Magnuson Brown. Turning 105 was a piece of cake. But as this lady from Nashua approaches her 107th birthday on June 15, those who know her best say the next celebration might be the most challenging.

Because COVID-19 has halted all visitors to Langdon Place of Nashua, where Brown has lived the past five years, her birthday extravaganza will be limited this year. The staff, however, is committed to offering her a grand celebration and is asking the public send Brown cards of encouragement.

She is really quite a resilient woman, said Bethany Willey, director of marketing and admissions with Genesis HealthCare, which includes Langdon Place.

It is still unknown whether Brown will be able to celebrate in person with her family, so employees are making every attempt to ensure a special birthday.

Cards are already coming in for Ruth. We are asking people to keep sending them, and our plan is to present the cards to her on her birthday, Willey said.

Bonnie Brown Oliphant, Browns daughter, said she at least hopes to see her mother through a window if she cant celebrate with her in person.

When people ask her what is her secret to longevity, she says, It is a secret, said Oliphant, 77. But she has also told people to be wise, but not to act too wise.

Brown was the oldest of 10 children. She graduated from eighth grade and then helped raise her younger siblings, according to Oliphant. Although she never went to high school, she attended business school as a young adult.

Brown worked as a comptometer (mechanical calculator) operator and married Robert Brown, an air traffic controller, in 1938. They had two daughters, and Brown lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas before moving to New Hampshire.

This has been really hard for my mother, Oliphant said of the quarantine. I am really so saddened by it. I pray every night that my mother will not die before I get to see her again. None of us really know.

Brown is described as a smart, health-conscious woman who was driving until she was 92.

She is so tough. She just doesnt quit, and she doesnt give up, Oliphant said.

Brown moved from Texas to New Hampshire at 101 after her other daughter died.

We all kind of held our breath a little since a move is difficult at any age, but here we are several years later and she is still as sharp as a tack, Willey said.

Turning 100 is a major milestone, Willey said. Turning 107 is phenomenal.

To help Brown celebrate, the public is invited to send birthday cards to Ruth Magnuson Brown at Langdon Place of Nashua, 319 E. Dunstable Rd., Nashua 03062.

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A milestone unlike any other in Nashua | Human Interest - The Union Leader

Prof Rajendra Pratap Gupta, public policy expert & Author, and Dr Rahul K Garg, a physician turned management consultant examine new frontiers to preserve the value of human life

World over and across healthcare systems, both private and public sectors are focussing on prevention. Public sector (Government) wishes to invest more in prevention programmes, and the private sector aims to build a profitable business around prevention. But both have failed to achieve their goal and yet, continue to struggle for success. Two areas which will be helpful to steer the debate further and give a definite direction, would be; one, what is the benefit for investing in prevention and can it be quantified for Return on Investment (RoI)?; Secondly, is the current model of invasive diagnostic tests and doctor centric preventive model, the right way to go or do we need to change our approach. This article looks at preventive care from these perspectives and makes recommendations whether preventive care makes sense and if yes, what is the net present value of prevention and what is the way forward for prevention to succeed.

Cost factor

We cannot assign any value on the cost of prevention unless we define the cost of maintaining a handicapped human body or assess the contribution of a healthy human being. What is it that we are trying to prevent from being lost? This is a tricky question, but there are various methods or ways in which we can calculate the cost of human life or cost of a healthy human being versus a lost monetary value when someone falls sick or is handicapped to perform routine duties.

Cost (Value) of human life

In 1976, Dr Harold J Morowitz, a biophysicist of Yale University, calculated that a human body is worth anywhere between 97 cents to $6 trillion depending on the methodology of costing (Morowitz 1976). The human body is 70 per cent water, the most precious substance responsible for life on earth. The rest 30 per cent of it is carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and some 100 other elements in minute quantities. The by-weight biochemical value of these substances in elemental form is around $ 150. That sounds very frugal valuation of a human body. An average American or European college graduate earns up to $3 million in their lifetime (Social Security 2015). Would this mean that human life is worth a few million dollars in direct earning potential or worth the taxes or the GDP contributions to the country? How to value the cost of continuity to human civilisation? Do we consider this in the notional cost as well? Additionally, a human contributes economically to society and nation in various intangible forms like spreading happiness and providing a support system to fellow humans.

Cost metrics in relation to various parameters

Multiple meta-analyses of 25 year-studies calculated the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) between $4-10 million (Ryan C Bosworth 2017). This is the number used by insurance firms, judiciary, and employers to calculate the monetary pay-out in case of an untimely loss of life. For example, employers pay $2,000 annual insurance premium for each of its 5,000 employees to cover them for $10 million covers. Insurance provider assesses the risk at less than 1 life being lost in a year. But all these numbers rotate around the economic benefit a human can provide. In clinical lingo, all the organs of a human body like bone marrow, kidneys, corneas, heart, lung liver, etc. are worth up to $45 million in a black market for organs (Trace Dominguez 2014). This indicates that we all possess an asset, our body. You can put the maximum insurance cover one can get in India / USA / EU and that could be a fair market value based on income.

Dr Harold J Morowitz demonstrated that if he were to incubate a human from elemental substances, it would cost him $6 trillion in terms of efforts and material resources to do so. Harold was a consultant with NASA and advised them on the thermodynamics and economics of sustaining human life on Mars. The takeaway from his research is that the human body is as valuable as you consider it to be. In consideration, one must acknowledge that the value is directly proportional to total expected life in years and the quality of each year of life. The better quality would mean the ability to live life at free-will and without any morbidity. A deduction to his research can be that preventing disease conditions adds monetary value to the most precious asset we all have, Human body. At this point, we are aligned with the thought that disease prevention is, financially and clinically, an intelligent practice.

Who owns the asset of a human body and who benefits from the deeds of this body? The answer to this question is also the answer to another question: Who should invest money in preventing disease to a human body?

The asset is in principle owned by the individual human being living inside the body. The individual utilises the capabilities of this asset to perform tasks, make a living, and experience life. In addition to this individual, his/her family is benefitted from the activities like cooking food, physical safety provided, companionship, and in some cases, money provided through the skilled use of the asset in the discussion. If the individual is working for an organisation, the employer is benefitted from the activities of perfectly health human body. Our social ecosystem, including society, governments, cultures, and environment are directly or indirectly benefitted from the deeds of an individual over his/her lifetime. All these parties, including the individual, family, employer, government, and society hold direct interest in the physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing of the asset, human body. To be fair and square, every beneficiary should be responsible for the health and well-being of the asset. It is in the interest of every stakeholder to keep every human being as healthy as possible and invest efforts to extend the longevity of life.

It might be difficult to distribute the $6 trillion equity amongst various stakeholders. But what is possible is to identify the role each stakeholder plays in the prevention of depreciation of the asset. In the case of a human body, getting a chronic disease impacting lifestyle and productivity is essentially the depreciation of the asset. Spending time in a hospital for a surgery or for any acute reason is downtime that erodes the productivity of the asset. The comparison of a sacred human body, which is considered a temple in many cultures, to an accounting jargon appears very blunt and cold. However, being more rational about the asset might put the point across the table effectively. The point is, if the human body is not taken care of, it depreciates to a level where chronic diseases dent the experience of living.

Depreciation with time or appreciation with experience? Cost of humans may vary with their age, more age means more valuable unlike durables or white goods! A human being is an appreciable asset, as an adult human with learnt skills is increasingly valuable to society. The value commensurate with the amplitude of the experience and inherent wisdom.

How much should be spent on prevention of diseases on a daily basis and over a lifetime? We must keep in mind that eventually, the human body will perish someday. The aim of prevention is to keep the body disease-free until it dies off just the old age. The answer to how much begins with who should spend time, money, and efforts to keep the body fit. The individual who lives within it has the highest level of control and authority on the asset. An individual holds the majority shares of this asset. While other parties are minor shareholders (stakeholders) to a varying degree. Each stakeholder is an influencer and beneficiary in keeping the asset healthy. Family educates the individual about good habits of hygiene and benefits of exercise. Family provides the basis of balanced diets and spiritual well-being. The society and the government provide the broader infrastructure entailing health education, community wellness programmes, and prevention of epidemics. The employers are interested in keeping up productivity through mental wellbeing, provide some sort of insurance to get treated appropriately and return to work. To keep employees healthy, employers provide gym and yoga memberships, extended health covers, positive working environment, and counselling support. Insurance companies are evolving their role in keeping their clients healthy. Insurance companies have begun rewarding the individuals and employers for good behaviour leading to a healthy outcome. All of the above-mentioned efforts are constructed on the individuals instinct of leading a healthy and healthy life.

Cost of living vs cost of untimely death? DALYS & Absenteeism

The final quest is how much is enough to invest in the asset of interest? Economists have concluded that if somebody lives a year in disability, there are cost implications on the individual and stakeholders. Not only the individual loses the earning potential, but there is also an extra expenditure incurred on medical treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) one Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) is one lost year of a healthy life. If a prevention strategy can postpone a stroke by 10 years, 10 DALYs are saved. In addition to the money value of DALYs saved, 10 years provide the time to develop the better medical management of stroke. Based on the method of calculation and socio-economic conditions, 1 DALY for an individual could be worth $5,000 or $1 million or any other number. According to WHOs Global Burden of Disease study, respiratory infections cause a loss of 95 million DALYs per year, depression takes 65 million DALYs, cardiac disease is 63 million DALYs, and HIV is 59 million DALYs (WHO 2004). Adding and multiplying these numbers with the economic value of 1 DALY suggest that we are losing more money to preventable causes of disability than the collective GDP of the whole world.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that preventing diseases through vaccination returns $10 to the society for every dollar spent (Cynthia G. Whitney 2014). A meta-analysis of 22 studies demonstrates that employers gain $3.27 in employee productivity for every dollar spent on workplace wellness programs (Katherine Baicker 2010). IBM is saving $130 million (with an RoI of 200 per cent) in insurance premiums and other costs through its flagship health and wellness programs (Carroll 2008). According to the American Diabetes Association, it takes $700 investment per year on lifestyle to prevent diabetes by 10 Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) (Jeffrey A. Tice 2016). This saves $12,878 per QALY in terms of medical treatment and complications prevented (Samantha Roberts 2017). An increase in physical activity by 2.5 hours per week reduces the lifetime risk of diabetes by 58 per cent(Sheri R. Colberg 2010). Every individual can save $100 per year in medical costs by keeping a check on weight and blood pressure. Milken Institute suggests that society can save $1 trillion annually through a modest focus on prevention (Bedroussian 2007). All these studies and data conclude that there is an economic benefit in preventing diseases.

Every stakeholder has an interest in keeping health intact for every human body on this planet. The highest interest is in investing efforts on the present-day children to imbibe in them the healthy living practices. This would provide the highest return on investments in the coming decades for the whole society. Irrespective of who spends how much on whose health, the positive spillover effect would benefit the stakeholder collectively. The consensus is to define the disease prevention role for every stakeholder. An individual must keep oneself motivated to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Family, society and government provides a proper ecosystem to help individuals and corporations in working towards the common goal of prevention. Municipality planners should emphasise on the access to fitness facilities for all the residents. Insurance companies and employers should reward positive behaviour. Doing so, there is a lot of money to be saved and generated.

Cost-benefit (Economic value) analysis of keeping people health: Absenteeism, economic contribution and productivity

Sickcare is negative dollars, prevention is positive dollars with RoI demonstrated. In any healthcare systems, 5 per cent of the sickest patients consume over half of the healthcare resources (Zimmerman 2017). If people stay healthy and reduce the burden on health systems, the quality of care would go up as well. The lack of right prevention activities is costing the world 2-3 times of the global annual GDP. According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, American annual healthcare spend is $3 trillion to manage chronic and mental conditions (CDC 2019). Productivity loss from these conditions costs another $2 trillion annually to the American economy. A joint report by the World Economic Forum and Harvard University estimates the economic burden of preventable non-communicable diseases will be over $47 trillion (globally) in the next two decades (Bloom 2011). If you connect all these dots, the fair amount of prevention based on Return on Investment can be arrived close to at least 20 per cent with an upside potential of 200 per cent. This should become the thumb-rule for spending on prevention. Start investing in programmes promoting right eating habits, smoking cessation, getting enough sleep, regular physical activity, annual healthcare screening after 40 years of age, vaccination, and prevention of infectious diseases like AIDS and Tuberculosis. Such practices would generate a positive feedback loop between the economy, individual health, and health systems. Since governments, employers, and insurance companies are more informed institutions as compared to individuals and families, it is the onus of the former to spread the wellness literacy amongst the masses. Though the individual is the ultimate go-getter for better health, the positive right-directed influence of the institutional beneficiaries is the key ingredient. A perfect combination of health and wellness policy framing, workplace incentives, societal enlightenment, and willpower to live and die healthy will be all that it takes.

New frontiers to preserve the value of human life

While the truth has always been shining about the secret of a healthy life, few have the resilience to practice it. Eat healthy, sleep early, sleep enough, exercise adequately, breathe healthy air, and keeping mental wellbeing are some of the examples. Mortal humans need a push in the right direction to follow the habits that maximise the outcome of life. Stakeholders like governments, employers, and communities are always looking for affordable solutions that would promote a healthy lifestyle. Technology is one tool that is affordable and is evolving to exponentially increase its relevance in wellness space. There are mobile apps that guide people to drink water on time, sleep on time, help to wake early, improving compliance with an exercise routine, and help in preparing a balanced diet plan. Some of this intervention might seem over-engineered, but that is the part of the fine-tuning process. Wearable gadgets like smartwatches, vitals monitors, activity sensors, etc. are all catalysts aiding individuals to maximise the value of their life. There will always be a financial and common-sense case to invest in technology that helps humans to live healthier, longer, and do more in a lifetime. Right health education, powered by the tools to live well, and supported by the adequate infrastructure to exercise is the key for any nation to unlock their demographic dividend.

References:

Bedroussian, Ross DeVol and Armen. 2007. An UnheAlthy AmericA:The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease. Milken Institute, Santa Monica, CA: Milken Institute. https://assets1b.milkeninstitute.org/assets/Publication/ResearchReport/PDF/chronic_disease_report.pdf.

Bloom, D.E., Cafiero, E.T., Jan-Llopis, E., Abrahams-Gessel, S., Bloom, L.R., Fathima, S., Feigl, A.B., Gaziano, T., Mowafi, M., Pandya, A., Prettner, K., Rosenberg, L., Seligman, B., Stein, A.Z., & Weinstein. 2011. The Global Economic Burden of Non-communicable Diseases. Geneva: World Economic Forum. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harvard_HE_GlobalEconomicBurdenNonCommunicableDiseases_2011.pdf.

Carroll, John. 2008. Whats the ROI on Wellness? Managed Care: Wellness, February 1. https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2008/2/what-s-roi-wellness.

CDC. 2019. Health and Economic Costs of Chronic Diseases. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, October. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/costs/index.htm#ref1.

Cynthia G. Whitney, MD, Fangjun Zhou, PhD, James Singleton, PhD, Anne Schuchat, MD. 2014. Benefits from Immunization During the Vaccines for Children Program Era United States, 19942013. CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), April 25. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6316a4.htm.

Jeffrey A. Tice, Rick Chapman, Karen K. Shore, Matt Seidner, Daniel A. Ollendorf, Jed Weissberg, Steven D. Pearson. 2016. Diabetes Prevention Programs: Effectiveness and Value. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, San Francisco: California Technology Assessment Forum. https://icer-review.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CTAF_DPP_Draft_Evidence_Report_050916-1.pdf.

Katherine Baicker, David Cutler, and Zirui Song. 2010. Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings. Health Affairs. doi:https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0626.

Morowitz, Harold J. 1976. The High Cost of Being Human. English. The New York Times Company. New York, February 11. https://www.nytimes.com/1976/02/11/archives/the-high-cost-of-being-human.html.

Ryan C. Bosworth, Alecia Hunter, Ahsan Kibria. 2017. THE VALUE OF A STATISTICAL LIFE: ECONOMICS AND POLITICS. Logan, Utah: Strata. https://strata.org/pdf/2017/vsl-full-report.pdf.

Samantha Roberts, Eleanor Barry, Dawn Craig, Mara Airoldi, Gwyn Bevan, Trisha Greenhalgh. 2017. Preventing type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of studies of the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle programmes and metformin, with and without screening, for pre-diabetes. BMJ Open, November. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017184.

Sheri R. Colberg, Ronald J. Sigal, Bo Fernhall, Judith G. Regensteiner, Bryan J. Blissmer, Richard R. Rubin, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Ann L. Albright, and Barry Braun,. 2010. Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes: The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association: joint position statement. Diabetes Care, December. doi:10.2337/dc10-9990.

Social Security. 2015. Education and Lifetime Earnings: Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis. Social Security. Baltimore, MD, November. https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html.

Trace Dominguez, Tara Long, Laci Green. 2014. How Much Are Your Body Parts Worth? Seeker. August 19. https://www.seeker.com/how-much-are-your-body-parts-worth-1792475763.html.

WHO. 2004. Burden of disease: DALYs. World Health Organization. doi:ISBN 978 92 4 156387 1.

Zimmerman, Karen Weintraub and Rachel. 2017. Fixing the 5 Percent. The Atlantic. June 29. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/06/fixing-the-5-percent/532077/.

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The cost(value) of human life and disease prevention - Express Healthcare

By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(May 28, 2020) The Worcester County Public Schools Board of Education signed and approved a ratified 2020-2021 contract agreement between the Worcester County Teachers Association and the Worcester County Educational Support Personnel Association on Tuesday, May 19.

The agreement was presented by Supervisor of Human Resources Dr. Dwayne Abt during the board of education teleconferenced meeting.

Lou Taylor

Normally, the signing would have taken place at the same time, but according to Abt, signatures were obtained prior to the teleconference.

We did have some language modifications, edits and additions, he said.

According to the agreement, the teachers contract has been agreed upon for one step increase to eligible employees and a 2 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA).

The contract will also offer step increases to eligible employees in a 2.5 percent COLA in the food service scales that will be adjusted to meet the minimum wage requirements by law over the next five years.

We also increased our longevity payment $100 from $1,300 to $1,400, Abt said. It is my pleasure to say that we have two signed agreements with our employees and Id like to thank Mr. Gary McCabe, Beth Shockley-Lynch and Mr. Ivory Smith, as well as the committees from the board as well as the association.

Shockley-Lynch, the president of the Worcester County Teachers Association, expressed her gratitude for the support of the agreement.

We would just like to thank the board in all of our support through all of this, she said. Our negotiated contract was ratified at 100 percent. I had no one that was displeased with it. We are very grateful to have the relationship with the board and with the leadership team. So thank you.

Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor also expressed his gratitude for the camaraderie between the organizations.

It is a pleasure to work with you, Mr. McCabe and Mr. Smith, Taylor said. Its been a true team effort through negotiations, and thats carried and even gotten deeper as weve gone through these uncertain times. So thank you for your partnership and for most importantly, keeping our kids first, and all of us doing the right things. It takes both sides and we appreciate that way of working together.

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Researchers believe a vaccine originally developed in San Antonio to combat tularemia, the rare and deadly rabbit fever, could also work against the coronavirus.

The San Antonio Partnership for Precision Therapeutics, a consortium of four bioscience research institutions, is pitching in $200,000 to find out.

Liz Tullis, the partnerships executive director, said the organization is backing a collaborative study led by University of Texas at San Antonio microbiologist Karl Klose after his proposal beat out 16 others in the city.

Established by UT Health San Antonio, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, UTSA and Southwest Research Institute several months ago, the group vets and jump-starts projects with funding so researchers dont have to rely on the months-long federal grant process, Tullis said.

Each institution is providing scientists to work on the potential COVID-19 vaccine.

On ExpressNews.com: Four major San Antonio institutions bankroll new research program

The Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio, which promotes collaboration in infectious disease research, plans to contribute 25 percent of the total project cost.

Joanne Turner, the centers executive director, said there are about 10 potential vaccines under discussion, but probably dozens of others that are still in the early stages of development.

Even with an accelerated process due to urgency, it may take many months to years to develop a safe and effective vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, she said. Its also possible that the first vaccines used will be replaced later, once scientists have a better understanding of what protective immunity is and can then design vaccines with improved protection or longevity.

This second wave of therapeutics is most likely where the tularemia vaccine, originally developed by Klose, will fit in.

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Klose, director of the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, spent the last two decades researching the bacteria that causes rabbit fever, which, while rare, can be used as a deadly bioweapon.

The tularemia vaccine was being tested on bio-threats, including anthrax, with some success, he said, so hes optimistic about whether it could also work against the coronavirus.

He discovered how to deactivate the organisms ability to cause disease, which led to the identification of a vaccine candidate that was safe and effective in several different animal studies.

Scientists will genetically engineer the prototype vaccine to insert the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and then test whether the vaccine can produce neutralizing antibodies against the protein.

Its a general concept that works for lots of different diseases. Theoretically, it should work for the coronavirus, Klose said. Those neutralizing antibodies, he added, are why patients are benefiting from plasma taken from COVID-19 survivors.

On ExpressNews.com: First San Antonio COVID-19 patient receives plasma transfusion from recovered donor

A few weeks before shelter-in-place orders went into effect, the tularemia vaccine had been developed to an advanced stage, with scientists working on formulations for eventual human use, funded by an $18 million grant to the Southwest Research Institute from the U.S. Department of Defense.

More than 140 clinical trials of potential COVID-19 related drugs are underway, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is working to expedite development of a vaccine.

Last week, the FDA issued guidance for researchers and created an emergency program for possible therapies called the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program.

The federal programs website notes that at least 457 drug therapies were in the planning stages as of May 11.

Klose stops short of saying that his vaccine will be the one that rises to the top, but even if it fails, the vaccines results can help scientists learn more about the coronavirus that emerged in December.

Theres a lot we dont know about the virus because its so brand-new, he said. What I can say is its going to take lots of people throwing everything theyve got at this virus to come up with the best solution.

laura.garcia@express-news.net

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Kyle Caires takes a selfie with prized wagyu cattle. Photos courtesy of Kyle Caires

Animal scientist Kyle Caires and a research team have found a way to nearly double pregnancy rates in wagyu, a Japanese breed of cattle that typically has low rates of reproduction but is prized for its meat.

By using technologies, such as artificial insemination, and pairing them with nutrition, management techniques and healthy and controlled environments, ranchers can improve their cattles reproductivity for less costs.

And meat lovers and chefs can have more access to high-quality beef.

Outcomes are much better when you work with Mother Nature, instead of against her, and the same is true when raising livestock, said Caires, the Maui extension agent for the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Therefore, choosing genetics with production levels calving ease, growth rate, milk production to fit a ranchs forage resources, rainfall level and availability of labor, is a great approach for all ranchers in Hawaii.

Caires, who works in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, recently published his research on how to improve the reproductive rates of the Japanese Black. He also spent the last six weeks setting up programs for ranchers and beef producers across Maui County.

Kyle Caires, Maui extension agent for the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, analyzes cattle embryo samples.

CTAHR programs include educational programs and outreach assistance to ranchers that want to consider estrus synchronization, artificial insemination, semen testing and pregnancy checking. He said that embryo transfers will be offered in the near future.

Excellent pregnancy rates are achieved with integrated approaches that combine genetic improvement strategies with good management practices on a case-by-case basis, not a one-size-fits-all approach, he said.

These safe procedures are no different than what would happen naturally in cattle reproduction, he said. For example, for ranchers breeding first-calf heifers, artificial insemination could help improve productivity because semen from bulls are proven to produce low-weight births, which makes the birthing process easier for first-time mothers, which in turn is better for the cows longevity and health.

Likewise, the semen used in artificial insemination protocols also must pass biosecurity measures to eliminate disease transmission, an added bonus, he said.

In collaboration with researchers from Washington state and Brazil, the article titled, The outcome and economic viability of production using IVF and SOV techniques in the Wagyu breed of cattle, was published May 1 in Veterinary Sciences.

The methods showed a 70 percent decrease in cost compared to typical genetic improvement strategies, Caires said.

Seven ranches on Maui, as well as several on Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island, are utilizing wagyu genetics already. However, due to their lower productivity, Caires said that most ranches maintain wagyu cross-breeds, not pure-breds.

Successful conception rates are between 75 and 80 percent following a single round of artificial insemination, he said, which is much greater than the national average of 60 percent for cows.

Other tips to improve beef reproduction include good nutrition, lowering stress, routine vaccinations, pasture and grazing management, as well as scoping out cows with genetic potential.

All the little things add up to a strong foundation that pays big dividends to set ranchers up for success when using technologies, like artificial insemination, where they can also utilize elite genetics from across the country at a fraction of the cost, he said. In order for AI to be consistently successful at the ranch, reproductive management protocols are used to help ranchers better time the delivery of semen in to match the ovulation event in the cows.

Moving forward, Caires plans to continue his applied research in order to improve genetics, reproductive efficiency and overall productivity for local farmers.

The main goal of our research is to help Hawaiis ranchers remain competitive in a dynamic, ever-changing global beef industry, he said.

To review the results of the study, visit mdpi.com/2306-7381/7/2/58/htm. For information about CTAHR programs on Maui, visit ctahr.hawaii.edu/Maui/pages/Programs.aspx.

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

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In the day and age of Botox and plastic surgery, people are going the extra mile to make themselves look younger, when in reality, all you need is a little beauty sleep. Skip the endless trials of age-defying oils and lotions, and read the following reasons on why rest is one of the best age-defying treatments out there.

During sleeping hours, especially when your body is in deep or REM sleep, your skin repairs itself. If you do not get enough sleep or are suffering from sleep deprivation, dark circles under your eyes will form, as your body has not repaired itself enough. If you are sure to get a full night of sleep, you will quickly notice that your skin has gained a more youthful appearance.

Human growth hormones are produced at high levels when we are young, yet slow down as we age. However, these hormones still get produced in lower quantities and levels during slow-wave sleep.

If you are lacking sleep and, thus, lacking these human growth hormones, you will most likely experience reduced muscle mass, sagging skin, slower metabolism, and more fat in your stomach. If you find yourself struggling to get to sleep, try to find mattresses that have better contour supportto ensure you are sleeping to the best of your ability.

The most abundant protein you can find in your body is collagen, and this protein is the major component of connective tissues, including your skin. It provides structure to your skin, giving you a youthful look. This protein is made while you sleep, so if you start to get behind on sleep, you will begin to notice visible wrinkles. There are collagen supplements you can take, however, nothing beats getting the real deal made in your very own body.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that naturally decreases when you sleep, and stress is known to cause breakouts. If you sleep a healthy amount, you will not have to worry about these stress breakouts. On the other hand, if you have constant high cortisol levels, it can easily and quickly cause acne breakouts.

Sleeping allows your skin to produce protective antioxidants that reduce damage from UV rays. If you miss out on sleep, you are missing out on these essential antioxidants. You can also take in this defense system through fruits, vegetables, and certain skincare products, but again, the easiest way to get them is by getting your beauty sleep.

Lack of sleep leads to facial inflammation and dysfunctions in your skin barrier, which causes a lack of hydration. Sleeping allows your face to stay hydrated, plump, and youthful-looking, instead of dry and flaky, so be sure to sleep that desert away.

Just like your mind, your skin has some serious stressors, too. While it may not be a new job or an important test coming up, its stressors are also significant. These include inflammation, redness, loss of moisture and elasticity, and inability to repair minor damage, such as sunburn. Sleeping gives your body and skin time to recover and fix all of those issues, leaving your skin more youthful-looking.

If you are trying to repair your skin, obviously the easy solution is getting more rest, but there are other ways to help your skin.

For starters, washing your face consistently is the first step. If you wash your face, yet still seem to struggle from looking tired, use products that contain antioxidants, like vitamin C, to help your skin repair overnight.

Consider using anti-aging skincare products as well. If you do start to use skincare products, do not apply them right before hitting the pillow. Allow the lotions, serums, oils, and any other products you might have used to sink into your skin for at least 15 minutes before you lay down to avoid them rubbing off on your sheets and pillow.

If you find your face to be drier than you would like, consider using an air humidifier. Humidifiers circulate water through the air and provide hydration continuously. Using them will help to leave you with a more youthful appearance.

Besides the scientific benefits of sleep, as Jim Butcher once said, Sleep is God. Go worship.

Want to read more about how to sleep better? Click here for more sleep inspiration.

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7 Reasons Why Sleep is One Of the Best Age-Defying Treatments - Longevity LIVE

MAYFIELD, Ohio -- During these times of daunting crisis, people are rethinking things as they look to the future. What will social gatherings look like? What will education look like? What will offices and businesses look like? All of these areas are up for grabs. People and companies are thinking out of the box because they have to in order to resume some semblance of normalcy.

Many people are also reflecting on life lessons: cherishing friends and family with new gratitude; appreciating service workers, delivery drivers, restaurant workers, hospital workers, grocery workers, teachers and first responders.

We have also seen abundant kindness: neighbors cheering neighbors; friends caring for the elderly; restaurants serving health care workers; strangers grocery shopping for newfound friends; random cars honking to celebrate birthdays. The list goes on.

Ellen DeGeneres observed on her show, that, This virus has us all isolated but the strength of human kindness means that we are not alone.

Edward Kraus is mayor of Solon.

Even corporations have extended kindness: bankers assisting businesses; mortgage companies and landlords giving abatements; insurance companies refunding premiums; and companies as diverse as Giant Eagle, FirstEnergy, Donatos and KeyBank advertising messages to comfort and inspire.

Media have been overflowing with good news about local heroes. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have documented inspiring stories about courage, caring and compassion. Many companies Cleveland Whiskey, Gojo, Thogus, Eaton, Lubrizol, Swagelok and others have altered production or collaborated to distribute hand sanitizer, safety shields and face masks.

This show of goodwill has created feelings of humanity and goodness despite otherwise grim numbers. Though there are economic disparities that cause stress for families trying to make ends meet, the overwhelming feeling is that people genuinely care.

When have we had this feeling of compassion before? During 9/11? A family wedding or funeral? Maybe never?

Stuart Muszynski is president and CEO of Values-in-Action Foundation.

Consider this new normal compared to the pre-pandemic world in which negative news abounded; insults overwhelmed Twitter; bullying inhabited schools; racism and anti-Semitism populated communities; and mass shootings happened every week.

While were rethinking: What would Cleveland look like if we sustained kindness, compassion and goodwill as the core values of our community?

What if Cleveland became Kindland? What would that mean?

For one, studies have shown that kindness has a viral effect, infecting at least three people in its wake. Kindness increases endorphins, which produce happiness and optimism; decreases cortisol, which produces stress; and increases longevity.

What company doesnt want kind workers? If Cleveland became Kindland and developed a reputation as a kind, respectful and responsible community, would this become an economic development draw? Would companies relocating gravitate to our region? Would kindness increase productivity and happiness among workers? Employee-engagement studies conducted by the University of California indicate that it would.

Prior to the coronavirus, we at Values-in-Action had already embarked on an initiative to make Cleveland Kindland asking leaders to become Leaders of Kindland, mayors to become Mayors of Kindland and citizens to become Citizens of Kindland committed to spreading kindness within the community. Many in Cleveland felt that this would be good for our image and our populace.

As we proceed to a new normal, we hope that citizens, leaders, nonprofits, government entities, companies and media join us in this endeavor. Lets not lose the good feelings we have engendered and the life lessons we have learned to return to business as usual. As we re-examine our lives and the future vitality of our region, lets commit to making Cleveland Kindland.

Edward Kraus, a board member of Values-in-Action Foundation, is the mayor of Solon. Stuart Muszynski is the president and CEO of Values-in-Action Foundation, a Cleveland-based character-education, kindness and leadership nonprofit serving 2,500 schools in all 50 states. To pledge to become a citizen of Kindland, go to http://www.viafdn.org/kindland

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* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

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COVID-19 has caught everyone by surprise. Theres no vaccine or defense, other than the one offered by nature right now your immune system. The world is worried about their health. Knowing how your immune system works at a genetic level may give you some answers you need to improve your odds of recovering from or even avoiding being infected with a virus like COVID-19.

Dr. Yael Joffe, is the Chief Science Officer at 3X4 Genetics. She says COVID-19 can be damaging and may be fatal. The virus triggers the hosts immune system and causes the body to react. Understanding your genes can help. Heres what you need to know.

The problem is that this immune response, in certain cases, can overreact. In order to kill the virus, the immune system floods the body with its in-built cellular defense system. However, when left unchecked the response may cause damage to your own cells, and with COVID-19, particularly the cells in your respiratory system. This being said, these responses differ widely amongst individuals. Partly because of how their genes respond.

Knowing how prepared your immune system is to defend yourself against the virus is a must. Youre gifted with a complex immune system, or cellular defense mechanisms. It springs into action when a toxin or pathogen (viruses and bacteria) overwhelms the body. Dr. Joffe explains: The way these mechanisms act can differ from person-to-person because of your genes. By taking a genetic test you will then be able to tell how ready your immune system is, and whether your cellular defense processes work optimally.

Genes are switches. When a protein or enzyme is needed by the body, the gene is switched on to make that protein. This is true for how the cellular defense system responds.

A number of genes switch on when the virus is detected to mobilize against it and switch off when the virus is killed off and flushed out. The problem with a virus-like COVID-19 is that the response is so powerful, cellular defense mechanisms like inflammation and oxidative stress are turned up so high that the body can be flooded and overwhelmed by the defense mechanisms themselves, causing damage to the cells. How efficiently these on and off processes work differs between individuals. Its partly due to their own genetic makeup. Once you know how optimally your cellular defense processes are working, you can understand better how resilient your immune system is. Then you can take steps to address shortfall.

Dr. Christine Houghton, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Cell-Logic is an expert on the relationship of genes with nutrition. She says knowing more about your genes can help your healthcare practitioner make positive changes through nutrition to improve and optimize these metabolic processes.

While many will be reaching for mega doses of supplements, your system is unique, nuanced, and very complex. A single nutrient like vitamin C, by itself, is nothing compared to the many small, calculated tweaks required at a molecular level to have your immune system work at its prime.

Your bodys core cellular defense processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, detoxification, and methylation are required to fight off COVID-19. They are activated and switched off via genes. Their reaction time and how efficiently they respond can be adjusted using a personalized, wholesome, and healthy diet, together with targeted nutrigenomic supplements.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master switch that is responsible for switching on (and off) hundreds of genes involved in cellular defense. It responds to the presence of any pro-oxidant molecule in the body that then activates many of the genes involved in the cellular defense processes. If it switches on quickly, you can flush the coronavirus out better. Although there are Ts and Cs to this process. Complications can occur with underlying chronic health conditions.

Houghton says that one way in which we can optimize the function of Nrf2s is by the ingestion of a nutrigenomically active molecule called Sulforaphane. The precursor to Sulforaphane is found abundantly in raw, calciferous vegetables such as broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. Unfortunately, its destroyed during cooking, and a quality broccoli sprout supplement may be required.

As there are many variables, it is important to consult a specialist who can help you prepare your immune system to be strong and resilient. This is especially true in times when there is an unchecked virus on the loose.

Can you prepare your immune system now? Dr. Joffe says the short answer is yes. You can start to optimize your immune system response for COVID-19-like threats through a tailored nutrigenomic dietary plan.

Make an appointment with an accredited nutrigenomic health practitioner and get a nutrigenetic test done to learn about the variability of your genes and your response to diet and lifestyle choices. This will inform them what cellular processes require the most attention. They will then recommend a nutrigenomic plan. They will also let you know what foods to eat to bolster your immune system to fight off a virus. This might also require some nutrigenomic supplements which mimic and optimize natural processes in your body.

Having a healthy immune system supported by an optimally functioning cellular defense mechanism could not only give you the edge in the fight against COVID-19, but will help you live a better, healthier, and longer life.

WATCH Longevitys Q&A with Dr Yael Joffe on genes and COVID-19. CLICK HERE.

As a dietitian who was both disappointed and disillusioned with the dietetics profession, Dr. Joffe was fortunate enough to start working in the field of nutrigenomics in 2000. She obtained my PhD from the University of Cape Town. She explored the genetics and nutrition of obesity in South African women. Today Dr. Joffe regularly speaks at conferences and workshops. She was also part of the team that built the first Nutrigenomic genetic test in 2000 in the United Kingdom. This was three years before the mapping of the human genome.

Dr. Joffe co-authored Its Not Just Your Genes, The SNP Journal, and Genes to Plate. The first gene-based recipe book. She has also published in peer-reviewed journals and been involved in the development and supervision of nutrigenomics courses around the world. Dr. Joffe is currently an Adjunct Professor, teaching Nutrigenomics at Rutgers University and at Maryland University of Integrative Health. She went on to establish Manuka Science in 2014, an online Translational Nutrigenomics training course for health practitioners. More recently she launched the 3X4 Clinic in Cape Town, and 3X4 Genetics. The company brings together expert nutrigenomic practitioners with the best genetic test and user experience. When not working to disrupt health care, she seeks equal parts discomfort and inspiration in open water swimming.

Dr. Christine Houghton Founder Director Senior Scientist Cell Logic has enjoyed a fulfilling and varied career in Nutritional Medicine spanning more than 30 years. Her work continues to stay at the forefront of this rapidly evolving profession. As a clinician, author, and educator, she is dedicated to promoting a model of health care that closely reflects diet and lifestyle choices. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from The University of Queensland. As well as a Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition from Deakin University in Victoria. Dr. Houghton is an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Science at The University of Queensland.

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Is Your Immune System Ready to Fight COVID-19? The Answer is in Your Genes - Longevity LIVE