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Woman.com.au
All about Australian Women
All about Australian Women
Unfortunately, all the anti-ageing treatments in the world will not stop Father Time. Ageing is a natural part of life. The down side is that one of the single biggest risk factors for many diseases is age, which is why it is so important to live a healthy lifestyle. By avoiding behaviours that age you prematurely, you may be able to prevent, or at least delay, some diseases.
If you can relate to any of the following lifestyle habits, then chances are, you are ageing before your time.
Being overweight or obese
Studies show that moderate obesity can reduce your lifespan by as many as 10 years, while extreme obesity can reduce your life by up to 12 years.
Smoking
Studies show that prolonged smoking from early adult life can strip as many as 10 years from your life, with 25 per cent of smokers dying from their habit before the age of 70.
Drinking excessively
The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks excessive alcohol use as the fifth leading factor for premature death and disability in the world. In Australia, around 3,000 people die each year due to excessive alcohol consumption, and around 100,000 are hospitalised.
Sleep deprivation
Studies have shown that getting less than six hours sleep each day quadruples the risk of stroke in healthy middle-aged adults. It can also take a toll on your mental health.
Sedentary lifestyle
If you sit for more than three hours a day, you can cut two years off your life. Watching TV for more than two hours per day will cut a further 1.4 years from your lifespan.
Poor diet
According to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, eating a poor diet can mean losing almost three years of quality life.
Excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun
Exposing your skin to too much sun increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Around 2000 Australians die from it each year.
Stress
Excessive stress can reduce your life by up to two years, and put you at greater risk of numerous health problems.
If more than one of these factors resonate with you, your health age is most probably more than your biological age.
