The simple trick to live 30 percent longer

Strokes and heart attacks can cut you down in the prime of life. But scientists in Sweden have discovered a way you can cut the risks of these killers and possibly live 30 percent longer.

Research on 4,000 60-year-olds that tracked their health for more than 10 years shows that merely gardening, doing your own car repairs and fixing things around the house are exercises that shrink your chances of heart attack and stroke while boosting life expectancy by up to 30 percent.

“Our findings are particularly important for older adults, because individuals in this age group tend, compared to other age groups, to spend a relatively greater proportion of their active day performing [routine activities] as they often find it difficult to achieve recommended exercise intensity levels,” the researchers conclude.

The study shows that you don’t have to perform a regimented exercise program to enjoy longer life and better health. You just have to stay generally active. That can include activities like pulling weeds in the backyard, mowing the lawn or changing belts on your car’s engine.

The highest level of daily physical activity was linked to a 27 percent lower risk of a heart attack or stroke, as well as a 30 percent drop in the risk of death from any cause during the study.