Health
Retirement could be bad for your health, says wellness expert: 'Powered by purpose'
While the “official” full retirement age in the U.S. is 67, according to the Social Security Administration, the average American stops working at 62 years old.
But not everyone retires — an AARP survey last year found that a quarter of people over 50 expect to never leave their jobs.
That might not be all bad, according to some experts who believe retirement could actually be harmful to the health.
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Dan Buettner, a Florida-based author, explorer and longevity expert, has spent years researching the world’s “blue zones,” where a greater number of people live to be 100. In those areas, he says, the notion of retirement doesn’t really exist.
An AARP survey last year found that a quarter of people over 50 expect to never leave their jobs. (iStock)
“Instead of this artificial punctuation between your useful and productive life and a life of repose, people in blue zones are powered by purpose for their entire lives,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
While retirement has been linked to less stress and more relaxation, Buettner noted that when people retire, their chances of dying spike.
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“We don’t know if this is because they become less active, or they lose their sense of purpose, or they lose their social work, or they go home to have troublesome situations,” he said.
“But the message is clear — the longer you can stay active, physically and mentally, and contribute the talent you have to offer the world, the more you’ll be rewarded with a longer life.”
“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Kyle Elliott, a tech career coach and mental health expert in California, said that one reason for the emphasis on retirement is that many people don’t enjoy their current jobs.
“Professionals often look toward retirement as an escape from their careers — but rather than focusing on retirement, consider trying to find joy in your current work,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The longer you can stay active, physically and mentally, the more you’ll be rewarded with a longer life.”
“If your current work doesn’t bring you fulfillment, it might be time to explore new opportunities,” he went on. “When people enjoy their work, they’re less likely to be counting down the days until retirement, and their good feelings positively impact their day-to-day lives.”
Benefits of not retiring
People who retire are more prone to loneliness, have lower energy levels and often “lose their sense of meaning,” according to Buettner.
“Unless you truly hate your job, the link between longevity and not retiring is very important,” he said.
“One of the worst things you can do for your health is disengage from those around you,” one expert said. (iStock)
“Having a meaningful job can provide the impetus for us to get out of bed in the morning, get out of the easy chair, keep our brains engaged and keep our bodies moving — these are the things that really fuel longevity.”
Elliott echoed the importance of engagement and activity as people age.
“One of the worst things you can do for your health is disengage from those around you,” he said. “Work provides a structured opportunity to continue to socialize and have purpose in life.”
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Having a consistent routine can also lead to health benefits, Buettner said — chiefly, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, which is more likely to happen with a work schedule.
“Sleep is the most important thing you can do for your overall health,” Buettner said.
“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion.” (iStock)
Elliott agreed that adhering to routines can significantly benefit mental health and longevity.
“You want to focus on engaging in those activities that boost your energy and well-being, while simultaneously removing those that drain your energy and negatively impact your self-care,” he advised. “As you near retirement age, this might look like switching careers or adjusting your social circle.”
Having a sense of purpose is one of the biggest benefits of opting not to retire, according to both experts.
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“It’s pretty difficult to be happy without purpose — it’s a lot easier when you’re clear on your purpose and passion,” Elliott said.
“When you’re clear on what drives you, you can use this clarity to motivate you during great times and provide resilience during difficult ones.”
“If you keep working, you can often take advantage of an employer health plan, you can delay taking Social Security benefits, and you’ll get a bigger paycheck in the future,” the longevity expert said. (iStock)
Buettner cited the famous “Nun Study,” a longitudinal study of aging and dementia that included 678 nuns in Mankato, Minnesota, many of whom lived past 100 years old.
“Those who lived the longest articulated their sense of purpose, the reason they woke up early,” Buettner said.
People who have a strong purpose are more likely to stay physically fit, eat nutritious foods, form healthy social relationships and take their medications, according to the expert.
“One very good study showed that people who maintain their sense of purpose live about eight years longer than people who are rudderless,” Buettner added.
Having a consistent routine, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, can lead to health benefits. (iStock)
There are also financial benefits to keeping a job.
“If you keep working, you can often take advantage of an employer health plan, you can delay taking Social Security benefits, and you’ll get a bigger paycheck in the future,” said Buettner. “Not only that, you’ll have more money to enjoy your vacations.”
Different flavors of retirement
Retirement doesn’t have to look the same for everyone and doesn’t have to be “all or nothing,” according to Buettner.
“If you’re in a job that you hate, you probably shouldn’t keep doing that to the grave — but finding a job that lines up with your passions and your strengths might be the very best life change you can make at any age,” he said.
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“If you’re doing something you love every day, you’re engaging your purpose and innate desire to contribute, and are more likely to be happy.”
Statistically, according to Buettner, the happiest people in the world work about 30 to 35 hours a week.
“If you’re doing something you love every day, you’re engaging your purpose and innate desire to contribute.”
“That leaves plenty of time to be physically active, nurture your family, spend time with friends and give back meaningfully,” he said. “This is how we configure a life that will not only help you live longer, but also better.”
Elliott agreed, noting that while it’s not necessarily a bad thing to look forward to retirement, it can be helpful — and healthy — to find work that brings you fulfillment and allows you to remain mentally, physically and socially active as you age.
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“Retirement doesn’t have to mean completely leaving the workforce — instead, it might look like engaging in a new line of work, pursuing volunteer efforts, taking up hobbies or even starting a business,” he said.
“This transition can be the perfect opportunity to explore new interests and continue to live an intentional life.”
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An accidental lab discovery has opened the door to entirely new ways of preventing the flu.
While investigating how influenza replicates, researchers discovered that different flu strains use completely different strategies to infiltrate human cells, SWNS reported.
By targeting the specific molecules the viruses rely on, scientists found that they could block them from entering new cells and halt their replication altogether.
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Researchers say these “fundamental insights” into seasonal influenza highlight a clear path toward developing better preventive medications.
“The hope is that fundamental, curiosity-based research like this helps to pave the way for novel strategies to treat and prevent influenza infections,” principal investigator Dr. Emily Bruce, from the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine, said in the SWNS report.
While investigating how influenza replicates, researchers discovered that different flu strains use completely different strategies to infiltrate human cells. (iStock)
While several flu strains cause illness, H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses are the most common. However, current flu tests cannot differentiate between them, and clinical treatments are identical for both.
Although vaccines and antivirals are available, Bruce noted a “dire” need for better medications to stop the virus from spreading cell to xxcell.
“You don’t get sick when a virus is in one cell,” he noted. “You get sick because a virus replicates itself and goes into many more cells.”
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The study, which was published in The Journal of Virology, originally aimed to map how viral RNA segments are transported within cells to create new viral particles.
The team used H1N1 and H3N2 viruses isolated from the nasal passages of positive patients in 2022.
Clinical treatments remain identical for both primary strains of the flu virus. (iStock)
During the investigation, the team unexpectedly stumbled upon a cellular pathway that blocked the virus from entering lung cells, SWNS reported.
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The data revealed that when a specific human protein called Rab11B was depleted, H3N2 viruses failed to enter human lung cells. H1N1 viruses were completely unaffected.
Using reverse genetics, the team mapped this defect and uncovered a brand-new, H3N2-specific role for Rab11B during viral entry.
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This discovery challenged the scientific assumption that all flu viruses enter cells the same way.
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“Viruses are like pirates from different countries hijacking someone’s ship,” Bruce said. “Different viruses, like different types of pirates, use different methods to get onboard.”
This discovery challenged the scientific assumption that all flu viruses enter cells the same way. (iStock)
“We had previously thought that all flu viruses used the same way to get into a cell, but we discovered that this is not true,” she went on. “H1N1 and H3N2 need different proteins to get in, and if you get rid of the right protein, a specific virus can’t get in.”
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While these findings identify a critical cellular pathway for viral entry, the study was conducted using isolated cells, the researchers acknowledged.
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Further research is needed to determine whether blocking the protein is safe and effective within a live, complex human respiratory system.
Bruce and the team hope to conduct further research to determine whether this Rab11B-dependency is a fundamental property of H3N2, or if it’s a trait unique to currently circulating flu strains.
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Eating processed meat like ham, sausage and bacon may be linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, according to new research.
While health organizations have already confirmed that processed meat can contribute to colon cancer, this study looked closer at cancers in the upper digestive tract, where the link has historically been less clear.
To understand these connections, researchers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), one of the world’s largest long-term nutrition and cancer cohorts, tracked the health and diets of 450,112 people across Europe for an average of 14 years.
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The study group included 131,426 men and 318,686 women, according to the study’s press release.
During the follow-up period, 876 people developed stomach cancer and 215 people developed esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
For female participants, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk of developing the disease. (iStock)
Researchers tracked where the stomach cancers grew, separating them into the upper part of the stomach near the throat and the lower part of the stomach.
The researchers also sorted the tumors into two categories based on how the cancer cells appeared under a microscope: intestinal, which forms more organized structures, and diffuse, in which the cells are more scattered throughout the tissue.
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After adjusting for other lifestyle factors, the researchers found that for every extra 30 grams of processed meat a person ate per day, their overall risk of stomach cancer went up by 9%. Eating that same extra 30 grams a day was also linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
A standard single slice of regular deli-sliced ham or lunch meat averages around 28 grams, according to USDA data and nutritional tracking databases.
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken and turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach. (iStock)
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken or turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach, the researchers noted.
The study also revealed differences between men and women. For male participants, only processed meat showed a clear, statistically significant link to a higher risk of stomach cancer. For female participants, however, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk.
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These findings align with global health benchmarks, particularly those established by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The agency has long classified processed meat as a known human carcinogen, primarily due to its strong, well-documented links to colorectal cancer.
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However, health organizations have also consistently pointed to a potential, yet less definitive, relationship between these meats and cancers of the stomach.
Eating 30 grams of processed meat a day, or the equivalent to one slice of ham, was linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. (iStock)
Further scientific investigation is needed to confirm the findings and to account for other underlying risk factors, such as certain stomach infections, which could interact with dietary habits.
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A key limitation of the study is its reliance on self-reported diets, which can sometimes lead to inaccuracies in how participants recall their meat consumption over time, the researchers noted.
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The findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers requesting comment.
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