It's shocking that a recent study in the journal Nature Medicine found that less than 10% of people achieve healthy aging — that is, living to age 70 without developing a chronic disease.

The most common condition is cardiovascular disease (CVD).

To avoid premature aging, you want to stay young at heart both physically and emotionally. And according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, there are five risk factors that account for around half of all cases of CVD:

• High blood pressure

• Elevated LDL cholesterol

• Being overweight

• Diabetes

• Smoking

But if you modify your habits — such as smoking or overeating — and lower your weight, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol, you can expect to avoid CVD for about 13 additional years if you're a woman and almost 11 years if you're a man.

The researchers also found that at ages 55 to 60, if women ditch those five risk factors they can add an additional 14.5 years to their lifespan, and men can add 12 years. And those are healthy years.

You can also achieve healthier aging by staying connected with your posse. Research shows that having poor social relationships is associated with a 29% higher risk for coronary artery disease.

Enlist your friends to go walking regularly, and work together to support each other going through smoking cessation.

You can also shop and cook together for improved nutrition that promotes weight loss and good times.

For more than 30 ways to age healthfully, check out "The Great Age Reboot."