Boozing and smoking linked with looking far older than your years
BOOZING too much and smoking make people look much older than they are, a study shows.
Wrinkles, eye discolouration and yellow marks on the skin all result from over-indulgence in alcohol and tobacco, according to researchers.
Groups of adults were examined from the mid-1970s every 11 years with the aim of tracking heart health.
Participants were specifically checked for signs of ageing linked to heart problems.
These include creases in the earlobes and arcus corneae, a whitish ring around the outside of the eye.
Another tell-tale sign is a condition called xanthelasmata, which shows up as yellowish fatty deposits under the skin, usually around the eyelids.
The adults had an average age of 51 but were as young as 21 and took a weekly tally of seven drinks.
Women who had 28 drinks a week ran a 33 per cent higher risk of arcus corneae than those who had seven.
In men who had 35 or more drinks a week the risk increased to 35 per cent. A pack of 20 cigarettes a day for 15 to 30 years was also associated with a heightened risk of 41 per cent in women and 12 per cent among men.
The study in Copenhagen – published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health – found light drinking was not associated with speeded-up ageing.
Dr Janne Tolstrup of the University of Southern Denmark said: “Heavy drinking and smoking increases general ageing of the body.”