People who had an unhealthy relationship with smoking, drinking and exercise early in life ended up on the fast track to mental and physical health troubles by their mid-30s, according to a new study by the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
“Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviors, such as smoking, heavy drinking and physical inactivity, as early as possible to prevent the damage they do to from building up over the years,” lead author Dr. Tiia Kekäläinen said in a news release on April 24.
Issues caused by bad habits can arise as early as the age of 36, the study showed.
Researchers found that there is an increased risk for health issues and depression as the individual increasingly participates in smoking, drinking and physical inactivity.
More specifically, the study found that smoking was linked to poor mental health, exercising less than once a week was linked to poor physical health and alcohol led to a decline in both mental and physical health.
According to numbers from the study and data from Alcohol Change UK, a heavy drinker is considered to be a man who consumes approximately 735 12 ounce bottles of 5% ABV beer per year and a woman who consumes approximately 515 ounce bottles of 5% ABV beer per year.
But the heavy drinking classification can change depending on the type of beverage a person consumed, per Alcohol Change UK.
MORE:
Scientists find ‘aging waves’ at 44 and 60 as they blow apart idea we gradually grow older
Feeling like you have aged overnight?
A new study published in the journal Nature Aging has revealed that the ageing process happens in pronounced ‘waves’ as opposed to a slow and steady climb.
After extensive research, a team of Stanford scientists determined that age-related changes including slowing metabolism, wrinkling skin and increased proneness to diseases show significant peaks at age 44 and 60.
Such changes can lead to weight gain or stronger effects from drinking alcohol.
Dr Michael Snyder, professor of genetics at Stanford University and senior author of the study, said: ‘People assume everybody’s kind of aging gradually. It turns out that most changes are not linear.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13810507/ageing-waves-study-age-diseases-health-44-60.html