7 Signs You’re Having A Heart Attack Clark, who’s best known for his gigs on American Bandstand and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, has long been an inspiration to those who watch him. He’s credited with introducing the world to rock n’ roll, and so many of our favorite shows today—American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent—exist because of his work on Bandstand. In memory of America’s favorite perpetual teenager, we take a look at six lessons we can all learn from Dick Clark. The importance of laugher. Throughout his career, Clark hosted a number of comedy specials. Research shows us that humor’s not just a silly diversion, but also yields important health benefits, like improving your mood, exercising your brain, masking pain, and even strengthening the bonds with those around you. In other words, there’s a reason why they say laughter is the best medicine. Follow your passion. Even after a major stroke in 2004, Clark continued to rock in the New Year with millions of viewers, showing that you’re never too old to do what you love. And Clark had quite a few passions—his resume shows dozens of different jobs and career ventures throughout his life. Doing the opposite—staying in a job you dislike—has been been linked to upping your risk of hypertension and heart attack. How To Change Careers At Any Age Why we need music. Clark’s Bandstand inspired a whole generation to love music. Playing your favorite tunes doesn’t just sound good; music has been shown to boost your health in a number of different ways, such as lowering your blood pressure and even reducing chronic pain. How? Many of the same brain pathways that process music also process pain; focusing on music takes up those brain pathways, leaving less room to register aches and pains. The power of love. One of the more memorable moments on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve came this past year when, after the ball dropped, the camera cut back to him kissing his wife rather passionately—leaving little doubt that love was one of his secrets to staying young. And science agrees: Researchers believe that the simplest touch, like kissing or holding hands, can release oxytocin, “the love hormone” that plays a big role in helping people bond with each other. Plus, those in relationships have been shown to suffer fewer illnesses and recover better from setbacks than people who isolate.
Why everyone should dance. Perhaps the best part of watching Clark’s Bandstand was seeing all the new moves the dancers introduced. And they weren’t just defining cool; they were boosting their health, too. Not only is dancing a fun way to stay fit, but it can also help you to defy your age. Women from three places where people live the longest (a village in Okinawa, Japan; a fishing region on Prince Edward Island, Canada; and a city in southern California) revealed their healthy habits, and one of them includes—you guessed it—dancing! Never letting illness stand in the way. Continuing to work after his stroke was just one illness Dick Clark powered through. In 1994, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and served as a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, proving you can live well with diabetes. In the words of Prevention’s May cover girl, Paula Deen: “Type 2 diabetes is not a death sentence. It’s something that you can live with, and you can live a very full, long, normal life.”
Also see: How Your Brain Reacts To Grief, Being Optimistic Protects Your Heart, Do You Need A Daily Aspirin?
