More Time Learning Leads To Better Health

A study published in the British Medical Council journal looked at 30 years of data from roughly 4.000 people who were being followed as part of the Framingham Offspring Study.

People were divided into three groups, low education (12 years or less), middle education (13 to 16 years) and high education (17 years or more).

The Research Results

According to results of the research the level of education an individual attained was inversely associated with higher systolic blood pressure looking over a 30 year period. The same research also revealed that the associations are likely to be stronger in females than males, on average women with low education had a blood pressure 3.26 mmHg higher than those with a high level of education. In men the difference was 2.26 mmHg.

You can read into these results how you wish, Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of the Blood Pressure Association, commented that a key reason for these results is that “generally people who have attained higher levels of education are likely to take healthy living messages more seriously and abide by them more often”.

Professor MacGregor also stresses the importance of having your blood pressure checked “‘It is very quick and easy to have your blood pressure checked and I advise people to make an appointment with their GP surgery as many now offer free blood pressure checks.

There are many factors that can lead to living a healthier lifestyle such as eating less salt, ensuring you eat your 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, regular exercise and drinking alcohol in moderation. We all need to take a proactive approach towards our health and all it takes is a little discipline.

There are so many tools online now to help us live a healthier life, you do not need to look to far a field either, many of the insurers in the private medical insurance market offering tools to track your exercise and eating habits to help you improve your lifestyle. With regular exercise and healthy eating you could even end up saving on your monthly premiums.