• Online Scheduling | Careers

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Behavioral Health
        • Critical Care Medicine
        • Diabetes Care
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Digestive Health
        • Emergency Services
        • Heart Care
        • Hospice
        • Infusion Services
        • Joint Replacement
        • Laboratory Services
        • Maternity Care
        • Neurology
        • Nutrition Services
        • Orthopedic Services
        • Pediatric Care
        • Pharmacy
        • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
        • Rehabilitation Services
        • Sleep Disorders Center
        • Stroke Care
        • Surgical Services
        • Urgent Care
        • Women's Health
        • Wound Care
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • Admissions
              • Cafeteria Information
              • Community Resources
              • DAISY Award Nominations
              • Directions
              • Events
              • Financial Information
              • Going Home
              • Health Library
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
              • Request Medical Records
              • Spiritual Care
              • Your Stay
                • Careers
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Mat-Su Medical Group
                  • Rehabilitation Centers
                  • Urgent Care
                  • Other Locations
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Awards & Accreditations
                    • Board of Directors
                    • Board of Trustees
                    • Careers
                    • Community Benefits
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Phone Directory
                    • Quality & Safety
                    • Senior Circle
                    • Volunteer Opportunities
                      • (907) 861-6000
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Online Bill Pay
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Events
                      • Contact
                      • analog clock icon
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        9 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      Home/About Us/Newsroom/Healthy Habits Increase Longevity and Improve Quality of Life

                      Refine Results

                      About Us
                      Awards & Accreditations
                      Board of Directors
                      Board of Trustees
                      Careers
                      Hospital Opportunities
                      Physician & Provider Opportunities
                      Community Benefits
                      Contact Us
                      Newsroom
                      E-Newsletter Sign Up
                      2024 News Releases
                      2023 News Releases
                      2022 News Releases
                      2021 News Releases
                      2020 News Releases
                      2019 News Releases
                      2018 News Releases
                      2017 News Releases
                      2016 News Releases
                      2015 News Releases
                      Phone Directory
                      Quality & Safety
                      ADA Accessibility Policy
                      Diversity Policy
                      Joint Commission Notice
                      Notice of Privacy Practices
                      Organized Health Care Arrangement Status
                      Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      Privacy Policy
                      Safety Improvement
                      Terms & Conditions
                      Senior Circle
                      Volunteer Opportunities
                      Opportunities
                      Volunteer FAQ
                      eNewsletter Redirect
                      Events
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Services
                      • information
                      • news
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        9 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes Intensive Care Unit at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

                        05.19.2025

                      • Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Earns an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

                        05.01.2025

                      • See All News & Press Releases
                      • Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                        Learn More
                      • Mobile Device

                        Online Scheduling

                        Free, convenient online check-in services.

                        Learn More
                      • Nurse and Patient

                        Patient Portal

                        Access your medical information
                        on demand.

                        Learn More

                      Healthy Habits Increase Longevity and Improve Quality of Life

                      6/8/2022

                      PALMER, AK – Five healthy habits could be the secret to a longer life for many people. According to a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, individuals who adopt the habits by the age of 50 may live seven or more years longer than those who don’t. And, those healthy habits may also help prevent chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

                      The study analyzed 34 years of data on more than 100,000 adults to see if there is a correlation between healthy habits and the three chronic conditions. Researchers found women who maintained at least four of the five healthy habits by the age of 50 lived an average of 34.4 more years free of the chronic conditions, while women who did not adopt the healthy habits lived an average of only 23.7 additional years – a difference of more than a decade.

                      The findings were similar in men. Men who adopted at least four of the five healthy habits by 50 lived an average of 31.1 more years without the chronic conditions while men who did not lived an average of only 23.5 years.

                      Robinson“There are simple lifestyle choices we can all make that have a remarkable impact on our overall health,” says Rebekah Robinson, M.D., a primary care physician with Mat-Su Medical Group in Palmer. “Eating nutrient-rich foods, getting moderate exercise and sufficient sleep, and avoiding proven harmful activities like smoking make a huge difference in our quality of life.”

                      Robinson suggests these five healthy habits to help prevent chronic diseases:

                      • Limit alcohol consumption: Alcohol is associated with a variety of short and long term health risks like headache and nausea as well as high blood pressure and some cancers. For women, limit alcohol to one serving per day, and two servings per day for men.
                      • Eat high quality foods: Start incorporating more high-quality foods into your diet like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes. Oppositely, begin limiting red meat, sodium and sugar-sweetened drinks like sodas and juices which are linked to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
                      • Exercise daily: Only 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise can prevent strokes, coronary heart disease and help manage stress. Try taking a brisk walk or riding a bike on a smooth path to help elevate your heart rate and break a sweat.
                      • Maintain a normal BMI: Experts recommend maintaining a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 to help avoid developing conditions linked to excess weight like diabetes and arthritis.
                      • Never smoke: Over 16 million Americans live with diseases caused by smoking including cancer, COPD, and other types of lung disease. Smoking also hurts those exposed to the habit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 41,000 nonsmoking adults and 400 infants die from second-hand smoke exposure each year. Protect yourself and loved ones from serious illness or death by totally abstaining.

                      “These are some basic steps anyone can take that produce both short-term and long-term health benefits,” Robinson says. “Adopting these habits will help you take control of your own health.”

                      To schedule an appointment with Dr. Robinson, or one of the other primary care providers at Mat-Su Medical Group, visit https://www.matsumedicalgroup.com/doctors-providers or call (907) 861-1450.

                      Mat-Su Regional Medical Center offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at https://www.matsuregional.com/enewsletter-sign-up.

                      Back

                      Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

                      • 2500 South Woodworth Loop
                      • Palmer, AK 99645
                      • P: (907) 861-6000
                      • F: (907) 861-6559

                      • ADA Accessibility Policy
                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Change Your Privacy Choices
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      • Price Transparency

                      Copyright ©2025. All rights reserved.

                      An AllianceHealth Oklahoma® hospital

                      Services

                      • Behavioral Health
                      • Critical Care Medicine
                      • Diabetes Care
                      • Diagnostic Imaging
                      • Digestive Health
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Hospice
                      • Infusion Services
                      • Joint Replacement
                      • Laboratory Services
                      • Maternity Care
                      • Neurology
                      • Nutrition Services
                      • Orthopedic Services
                      • Pediatric Care
                      • Pharmacy
                      • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
                      • Rehabilitation Services
                      • Sleep Disorders Center
                      • Stroke Care
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Urgent Care
                      • Women's Health
                      • Wound Care

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • Admissions
                      • Cafeteria Information
                      • Community Resources
                      • DAISY Award Nominations
                      • Directions
                      • Events
                      • Financial Information
                      • Going Home
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Request Medical Records
                      • Spiritual Care
                      • Your Stay

                      About Us

                      • Awards & Accreditations
                      • Board of Directors
                      • Board of Trustees
                      • Careers
                      • Community Benefits
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Phone Directory
                      • Quality & Safety
                      • Senior Circle
                      • Volunteer Opportunities

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá,
                      • עִברִית
                      Loading... Loading...