KICK HARMFUL HABITS

It’s never too late to cut down on alcohol and stop smoking…

WATCH YOUR WINE

There is a clear relationship between alcohol intake and the likelihood of reaching the age of 90 in both men and women. In one study, people who drank between 0.6 and 1.9 units a day (5-15g of alcohol) were up to 36% more likely to reach the age of 90 than other groups – with binge drinkers significantly less likely to achieve a healthy old age.

While many of my patients believe that a small amount of alcohol – particularly red wine – is good for their hearts, recent research suggests the greatest health benefits come from avoiding alcohol entirely. Earlier this year, the World Heart Federation reviewed the research and issued a policy briefing confirming that people who abstain from any alcohol are at lower risk of heart disease, stroke,

heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. So swap it for soft drinks or a cuppa wherever possible.

THE END OF SMOKING?

We know that smoking increases the risk of a host of cancers, along with lung and heart disease, but today we are in the happy position of having fewer smokers in the UK than at any time since records began in 1974. Then, almost half the adult population (46%) smoked; by 2020, that figure was down to 13.5%. Of course, many non-smokers have smoked in the past. But the benefits of quitting accumulate over the years: within a year, your risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a current smoker (and within 15 years is no higher than if you had never smoked), and within 10 years of quitting you halve your risk of lung cancer.

Want to quit smoking? The NHS offers a variety of services to help you. Visit nhs.uk/betterhealth/quit-smoking to find out more.