Remove This One Thing To Add Years To Your Life: A 92-Year-Old Cardiologist On Hearts, Health, And Quiet Living
Yevgeniy Chazov—legendary Soviet physician, cardiologist, and witness to a turbulent century—reached 92 without sinking into bitterness, burnout, or endless ailments. His “method” wasn’t a miracle diet or a punishing routine. It was simpler, quieter: live at peace with yourself and your surroundings.
He spent a lifetime listening to other people’s hearts—and learned to listen to his own. Until his final days, he repeated the same theme: lasting well-being grows from calm, forgiveness, honesty, and, above all, a sense of purpose.
What is the one thing he said to take out of your home?
The television. Not because fat, sugar, or even a soft couch don’t matter—they do—but because stress erodes the heart faster than most people realize. And few things pump anxiety into a living room like a constant stream of alarming headlines, noisy arguments, and background dread. “Television drips worry into the mind,” he would say. “Drop by drop, it poisons the mood. Sadness and agitation can finish us sooner than illness.”
In his clinic, Chazov saw patients whose scans looked fine, yet their lives were cracking under tension and lack of meaning. Hours of toxic media didn’t just waste time; it nudged them toward low-grade depression, poor sleep, and strained hearts.
Lessons from a long life in medicine
Forgive quickly. He was betrayed by colleagues and students and never sought revenge. Letting go kept his inner weather clear.
Wake with a reason. Not glory or grand achievements—just a small task that matters. A purpose, even a modest one, steadies both body and soul.
Stop hoarding stress. The most dangerous strain is the silent kind we swallow and deny. Name it. Release it. Speak it. Move it through.
Eat sanely, not fearfully. He wasn’t a slave to trendy rules. He sweetened his tea, ate bread and sausages, and simply avoided heavy butter, excess fat, and smoked foods. Moderation over obsession.
Refuse everyday negativity. This isn’t only about screens. It includes draining conversations, routines that exhaust you, and rooms that never rest. Tranquility is medicine you can choose.
Protect your nerves. He believed nearly half of people walk around with on-and-off low mood. Cultivating optimism, gratitude, movement, daylight, and real connection helps shield the heart.
Practical ways to live longer—and lighter
• Put your TV (and endless news) on a strict diet. Especially skip sensational programs designed to spike your adrenaline.
• Replace some screen time with things that actually lower blood pressure: a slow walk, a phone call with a friend, reading by a window, 10 quiet minutes with your eyes closed.
• Make your home feel serene. Fewer screens in sight, more places to talk, nap, or think. Soft light. Fresh air. A plant you remember to water.
• Say no without apology—to invitations, habits, and people that keep you tense.
• Forgive, even when no apology comes. It frees you more than it frees them.
• Aim for meaning, not perfection. A life with purpose—however small—outweighs a life staged for show.
• Remember: the heart doesn’t only pump blood; it keeps stories. Listen to what yours repeats.
Chazov didn’t hand out slogans. He offered human truths. Sometimes better living begins with something as simple as turning off the television—and turning your life back on.