Your mid-30s is the point at which bad habits begin to damage your body, Luke O’Neill has warned.
The Trinity Professor urged people to avoid “the usual suspects” - such as smoking, heavy drinking and not exercising - and start practising good habits as early as possible.
Professor O’Neill added the evidence for this is clearer than ever following the publication of a “massive study” in the Annals of Medicine.
“They measured people at the age of 27, 36, 42 and 61 and tracked them for decades,” he told The Pat Kenny Show.
“It turns out from the age of 36, you’re in trouble.
“So, if you’re a heavy drinker or a heavy smoker or you don’t exercise, the damage begins in your mid-30s.
“If you’re younger than that, your body can handle the pressure.”
A group of friends have some pints. Picture by: Alamy.com.Professor O’Neill said if you continue with bad habits, the impact “gets worse and worse as you get older”.
“They asked all the people about their drinking and smoking and exercise and they measured their physical health and their mental health,” he said.
“Liver function, heart function, all these various metrics to correlate the two.
“So, if you’re a heavy smoker, they noticed the big deficit there in the mid-30s was mental health problems more than physical - which was a bit surprising maybe.
“So, the smoking is doing the damage inside your body but your mental health is threatened [too].
“Drinking is, of course, physical and mental health.”
A man carrying pints. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie.Professor O’Neill continued that it is “very hard to shake” bad habits but doing so can make a massive difference to your health even after decades.
He noted that people who quit smoking in their 60s can extend their lifespan by a year.
“Quitting at any age will benefit you,” he said.
“Even if you’re in your 60s and you quit, it might give you an extra year but the damaging effects of smoking go on and on.
“Of course, the risk of cancer is obvious but also lung disease as well.”
The HSE offer free support to anyone looking to quit smoking.
Main image: Luke O'Neill and a smoker. Pictures by: Newstalk and Aamy.com
