Physician Comments on CNN Report on 5 Healthy Habits to Live Longer

In a CNN report published on its website Monday, Jack Der-Sarkissian, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, talks about the importance of eliminating smoking to improve one’s health. The family medicine physician is one of several health experts quoted in the story, “These 5 healthy habits could help you live a decade longer, study suggests.”

The story highlights a study published in the journal Circulation, which found men and women lived 10 or more years longer if they stopped smoking, maintained a healthy body-mass index, kept up moderate exercise, didn’t drink too much alcohol, and ate a healthy diet.

Dr. Der-Sarkissian, who is also assistant area medical director at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, says smoking is “the least-debated health risk factor.”

“Beyond cancer risk, smoking contributes to lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. The study shows that even minimal smoking —from one to 14 cigarettes a day – is associated with increased death due to cancer and heart disease,” the physician is quoted as saying in the article.

To read the complete story, visit CNN’s website.