It sometimes feels like having bad habits is an inescapable part of being human. You know certain vices are doing you harm, you know you should stop them before too long, you know they’re often not conducive to a healthy and happy life.
Of course, not all habits are equally damaging, and not all people are as committed to a bad habits as, say, someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes everyday. My point is that most people have or have had a habit that they’d rather kick than keep.
But which ones are doing the most damage? Well, as it pertains to longevity and the impact they have on your prospects of growing old, there are a select few that you should be paying more attention to.
That’s according to Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon based in Georgia, US, who shared a video explaining the changes you might want to consider making as you hit middle age… if you want to give yourself the best possible shot at reaching old age.
Dr. London has over a quarter century of clinical experience as a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon, and he’s made it his goal to issue easy-to-digest health information designed to impart upon people medical knowledge they might not otherwise be inclined to take in.
Via his social media channels, Dr. London delivers short videos to this end. A recent one, uploaded to his TikTok, saw one of his sons enter his office and ask: “Dad, what things would you avoid after the age of 40?”
Dr. London then proceeds to outline four tips that he feels are important for anyone who’s just hit middle age – the first two, it should be said, can be applied to any age.
Alcohol
The surgeon advises that one of the biggest changes to make concerns the reduction or elimination of alcohol from your life.
“The first one would be alcohol,” he said. “If you really want to set the stage for yourself long term, limit or remove alcohol, it’s toxic to every cell in the body.
“I realise this can be hard because alcohol is everywhere. It is a personal choice but just be thoughtful.”
Smoking and vaping
It will likely come as no surprise that smoking or vaping are also on the naughty list. That regular smoking can have dire consequences has been known for decades, and vaping – though perhaps not as damaging – comes with its own set of problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, as many as eight million people die premature deaths due to smoking.
“Next is smoking and vaping. I don’t think anyone would disagree that it’s bad for you,” Dr. London continued. “It increases your risk of lung cancer, heart attack and stroke – don’t vape, don’t smoke.”
Sleep
Getting the right amount of good sleep regularly might not seem something of dramatic importance while we’re young, but it’s essential for maintaining both physical and mental health.
“Don’t trade sleep for other activities,” Dr. London warned. “This is something that I personally struggle with.
“Recovery is so important throughout our lives but it’s really important as we get older.”
Avoid toxic people
In Dr. London’s opinion, the people who you surround yourself with as you age can also play a pivotal role in how healthy you are.
According to Calm, toxic relationships can impact your mental health and potentially lead to an increase in anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
“Finally, avoid toxic people, focus and nurture on your relationships with the people that you care about and love because in the end that’s what truly matters,” Dr. London said.
Did you know about these four things? Let us know in the comments.
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