How to reclaim 10 years of your life

Many men like to tell themselves that smoking is just a little indulgence and that the only person worried about their high blood pressure is their doctor, so they may be surprised to read the findings of a new study: researchers have concluded that, concretely speaking, middle-aged male smokers with high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels risk dying about 10 years earlier than their healthier counterparts.

Many men like to tell themselves that smoking is just a little indulgence and that the only person worried about their high blood pressure is their doctor, so they may be surprised to read the findings of a new study: researchers have concluded that, concretely speaking, middle-aged male smokers with high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels risk dying about 10 years earlier than their healthier counterparts.

The study, which was initiated between 1967 and 1970, involved over 19,000 British civil servants aged 40 to 69. Thirty-eight years later, the survivors were located (13,501 had passed away). Researchers measured the participants’ height, weight, blood pressure, lung function, cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels. The participants also completed a questionnaire on their medical history, smoking habits, type of employment and marital status. Smokers made up 42 percent of the cohort, while 39 percent suffered from hypertension and 51 percent had hypercholesterolemia.

According to the results of this study, men with these three cardiovascular disease risk factors could expect a their life expectancy to be reduced by 10 years. In other words, a 50-year-old man who smokes, has hypertension and hypercholesterolemia can expect to live up to the age of 74, while a man without these risk factors can expect to live up to 83 years of age.

When the researchers included other risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and professional status, they found a 15-year life expectancy difference between the 5 percent with the highest number of risk factors and the 5 percent who had the lowest number.

Even though this study dealt with men, we can expect that women would experience similar benefits.

No-one can guarantee that people who lead a monastic life will live longer. However, developing a healthy lifestyle means putting all the odds in you favour for enjoying many more happy years. Also, keep in mind that it is never too late to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, which includes smoking cessation, eating well and practicing regular physical activity.