Published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, the Copenhagen City Heart Study followed a sample of random individuals in 1981 to 1983; 1991 to 1994; and 2001 to 2003. The 11.5-year study, which began in 1976, followed approximately 11,500 people aged 21 to 86 years old. It is the first study to show that alcohol and smoking are directly associated to signs of aging which may be a cause for higher rates of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases.
The participants were interviewed about their lifestyles and their current health state, and were asked about their smoking and drinking habits. Data collected from the participants reported that the average alcohol consumption of women was at 2.6 drinks per week, and 11.4 for men. Fifty-seven percent of the total number of women and 67 percent of the men were smokers.
The researchers noted the following visible signs of early aging, which were linked with cardiovascular ill health and death: earlobe creases, arcus corneae, xanthelasmata, and male pattern baldness. Among the signs, arcus corneae, or a gray-colored ring around the cornea of both eyes, was the most common. Sixty percent of the men and over 70 percent of the women developed arcus corneae. Xanthelasma, or yellow-orange plaques on the eyelids, were the least common.
Women who drank 28 or more drinks per week had a 33 percent higher chance of developing arcus corneae, and men who consumed 35 or more drinks weekly had a 35 percent heightened risk of the same aging sign. In terms of smoking, one pack of 20 cigarettes daily for 15 years had a 41 percent higher risk or arcus corneae in women and 12 percent in men. Study showed that male pattern baldness was not consistently in line with heavy drinking or smoking, since it is strongly influenced by genetics and the circulation of male hormones.
If you have these bad habits, you might want to consider the following:
Most of us are constantly concerned with our looks, and we routinely use beauty and bath products to mask the signs. For most heavy drinkers and smokers, cutting back on smoking and drinking may be too difficult. It is necessary, however, since a lot of studies have shown that the two habits greatly increase an individual's risk of developing chronic diseases. Total abandonment of drinking alcohol and smoking helps a person live a long, healthy life, and will stop the early progression of these age-related issues.
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