The key to living longer has more to do with your lifestyle than any quick-fixes or medicinal remedies, according to a noted cardiologist.

Clyde Yancy, M.D., a professor of medicine and chief of cardiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress recently that people who follow seven simple steps can expect to live to 90 to 100 years of age.

“By following these steps, we can compress life-threatening disease into the final stages of life and maintain quality of life for the longest possible time,” Dr. Yancy said.

1. Get active. Being inactive can reduce your lifespan by almost four years.
2. Control cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol can build up fatty deposits in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Eat healthy. It’s one of the most important things that can be done to improve health.
4. Control blood pressure. High blood pressure, a “silent killer” with no signs or symptoms, ups your risk of heart attack and stroke.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight/obese can cut about four years off your lifespan.
6. Manage diabetes. The condition increases the risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and stroke.
7. Don’t smoke. Quitting smoking and eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke decreases the risk of heart disease and stroke immediately.

It is also economically important for governments around the world embrace prevention strategies, Dr. Yancy said, especially since the cost of treating heart disease in the U.S. is estimated to skyrocket to $818 billion by 2030.