This Daily Habit Can Add Years To Your Life, According to Doctors
When it comes to longevity, you likely already know that diet and exercise play a major role. Consistently getting enough sleep, not smoking or vaping and knowing how to effectively manage stress all matter too. In fact, collectively, all of these habits play a more important role when it comes to longevity than genetics. That's powerful! There's another habit that scientific research has also shown can add years to one's life and it's not talked about very much. Keep reading to find out what it is and how to integrate it into your life.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊
According to scientific research, people who routinely practice gratitude tend to live longer than those who don't practice gratitude. 'Gratitude is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have to regulate our physiology, which can absolutely enhance longevity,' says Dr. Darshan Shah, MD, a longevity expert and surgeon at Next Health.Dr. Shah explains that a positive mindset driven by gratitude has the power to shift someone from a stress state into a parasympathetic rest-and-repair state. 'When we're in the parasympathetic state, our cortisol levels are low, inflammation reduces, and our heart rate variability increases. These biomarkers are closely connected to better health outcomes and increased lifespan,' he says.
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Dr. Christine Gibson, MD, a family medicine doctor and trauma therapist, says this too. 'Gratitude is really about focusing attention on the positive. When we do this, we are lowering stress levels and helping our parasympathetic system. [This can] lower blood pressure, improve immunity and lower multiple risk factors that could be harmful,' she explains.
Both doctors say that living a life constantly feeling stressed, angry or on high alert instead of grateful can be devastating for health. 'When we are stressed, it tends to activate the fight-or-flight response. This is correlated to high blood pressure and high heart rate. Studies show that gratitude lowers inflammatory response and improves cardiovascular health,' Dr. Gibson says.Related:
Dr. Shah echoes this, saying that human biology is designed to survive and perform under short bursts of stress; not live with it 24/7. 'Chronic stress and anger keep the body in a persistent fight-or-flight state, which wreaks havoc over time on nearly every system in the body—especially the cardiovascular system. High levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline increase blood pressure, damage blood vessels and raise the risk of strokes and heart attacks,' he says.Related:
While scientific research does show a connection between gratitude and longevity, Dr. Gibson says that it's important to note that some people are predispositioned to be naturally grateful more than others. If someone experienced childhood trauma or is experiencing hardship, gratitude may not come as naturally to them as it does to someone who has lived a comparatively easier life. While anyone can practice gratitude, it's important to remember that it may be harder for some than others.
'Gratitude is a privilege. There are many people who aren't getting their foundational needs met and it is more difficult for them to focus on the practice. If you don't feel physically or psychologically safe or have adequate food or shelter, this is a more challenging practice. It's not impossible, but it's definitely challenging,' Dr. Gibson says.
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Want to put this free, life-lengthening habit into practice? Both doctors have some tips. Dr. Shah recommends tweaking your morning routine with gratitude in mind. Instead of waking up and immediately grabbing your phone, he recommends going for a walk around the neighborhood. 'This alone will boost your mood and contribute to a regulated circadian rhythm, which makes gratitude feel more natural,' he says.
Listing three things you are grateful for mentally or on paper can help set a positive tone for the day, both experts say. Both doctors say this is also a great way to end the day too.
As you go about your day, Dr. Shah recommends actively noting what you are grateful for as it happens. This could look like being grateful for a cup of coffee as you sip it, for your pet as you feed them or for having a paying job as you start your workday. This may not come naturally at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Dr. Gibson recommends actively sharing with others how grateful you are for them as a powerful way to practice gratitude. It will enrich not only your life, but theirs as well!
As this mindset becomes your default, Dr. Shah says it not only has the power to lengthen life, but also makes life more enjoyable. There is no downside to making a mindful effort to be more grateful. You just may inspire others to appreciate things a little more too.
Up Next:Dr. Darshan Shah, MD, longevity expert and surgeon at Next Health
Dr. Christine Gibson, MD, family medicine doctor and trauma therapist
This Daily Habit Can Add Years To Your Life, According to Doctors first appeared on Parade on Jul 15, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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