Billy Mays, Michael Jackson, and Your Health

At age 50, both Billy Mays and Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest, which is usually a terrible consequence of heart disease. Trent Hamm from the personal finance blog The Simple Dollar took a profound and personal look at what the deaths of these two icons meant for him:

Fifty years old? I’m thirty – twenty years away from that magic number. Both of my kids would merely be college age when I’m fifty. I have many things that I want to do in life, and the thought that my life could easily end – or my quality of life could rapidly fall – at such an early age made me think quite a bit about the future – and other things I can do now to protect it.

I’ve invested quite a bit of time and energy in my own life – and I’m sure you have in your own – building the foundation for a great later life. My retirement accounts are solid. I have a book in print that pays me royalties and another one on the way. I want to be able to enjoy the benefits of these things in my golden years as I play with my grandchildren. I want to protect my investment.

Trent rounds up some simple tips his doctor recommends to reduce your chances of heart disease as you get older, such as cutting back smoking, exercising, eating healthy, and other behavioral changes such as using relaxation techniques or decreasing your sodium and caffeine intake.

Billy Mays, Michael Jackson, Your Heart, and Your Bottom Dollar [via The Simple Dollar].

Popularity: 13% [?]