Aging is an inevitable process for a living being, which begins at birth and, in the particular case of man, accelerates after reaching the age of 40. We cannot help but age, but it is within our power to delay physical and mental deterioration in order to prolong life and reach old age with more energy, health and vitality.
To do this, it is necessary to know what factors cause us to age prematurely, as this will help us develop the necessary healthy habits.
- Stay in the sun.
The sun is very beneficial and necessary for life, but excessive and careless exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays damages the DNA of skin cells and causes wrinkles, blemishes and even more serious problems such as melanoma or skin cancer. In addition, exposure to the sun causes our body to produce large amounts of free radicals, which increase oxidative stress in the body and accelerate cell aging.
- Smoking.
Tobacco is one of the worst vices for our health because it contains many chemicals that increase free radicals in the body, reduce our antioxidant capacity and disrupt the production of collagen and elastin, key ingredients for health. and the appearance of the skin. In addition to skin aging, tobacco causes poor blood circulation in all tissues and is the main cause of diseases such as cardiovascular disease or cancer, which reduces our life expectancy.
- Junk food.
Food is one of the pillars of health and longevity. It has been more than proven that a diet low in nutrients and high in saturated fats, sugars and processed foods can contribute to premature aging by increasing the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. .
On the contrary, a healthy and balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals helps us avoid the main causes of aging, such as telomere shortening or oxidative stress, which helps us live longer.
- Chronic stress.
Chronic and persistent stress increases the levels of the hormone cortisol in the body over time, which accelerates the natural changes that occur in the DNA and causes serious damage to our health, both internally (risk of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease or cardiovascular diseases) and external (wrinkles). In addition, stress causes many other symptoms such as problems with concentration, problems with memory, digestion, sleep, etc.
- Sleep deprivation.
Sleeping less than 7 hours affects our mood, causing irritability, bad mood, aggressiveness, and our physical health, causing high blood pressure, increased risk of dementia, obesity, weakened immune system…
Indeed, sleep allows muscle, organ and brain cells to repair and renew themselves each night. Sleep also helps regulate metabolism and release certain hormones. When these processes spiral out of control due to lack of sleep, the risk of these aforementioned problems increases.
- Drink alcohol.
Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption can cause dehydration, inflammation and oxidative damage to the body, which can contribute to premature aging.
Excessive consumption of strong drinks increases the risk of liver disease, cancer, ulcers and perforation of the stomach wall, heart attack… Thus, it seriously affects our health and life expectancy.
- Impact of environmental pollution.
Exposure to environmental pollutants such as air pollution, car smoke or water pollution can damage the skin and accelerate the aging process. This exposure to pollutants increases the amount of free radicals in our body, leading to significant DNA damage. And if this DNA damage is not repaired, aging can accelerate.
- Lack of physical activity.
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes of premature aging because regular exercise brings many benefits to our health and helps to avoid obesity, reduce stress, improve mood, prevent development of neurodegenerative diseases, to prevent cardiovascular diseases, to increase muscle mass and mass. In addition, active people have significantly longer telomeres than those who lead more sedentary lives. And making sure our telomeres don’t get shorter is key to slowing down aging.
Thus, the lack of physical activity increases the risk of serious diseases and premature cellular aging.
- Loneliness.
Caring for and nurturing our social relationships, whether friendly, family or romantic, provides emotional support and prevents isolation and loneliness. Lonely people increase the risk of premature death by 14%.
Nurturing relationships with family and friends helps us live longer and better lives. In fact, several studies claim that people in relationships have more resources to deal with the challenges of old age, both healthily and emotionally, helping us live longer.
- Hormonal changes.
A decrease in hormone levels with age is common and is associated with decreased secretion from the pituitary, adrenal and gonads. The hormones that most influence aging are estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Their reduction increases the risk of many diseases and, consequently, aging.
In fact, one of the mainstays of rejuvenation is hormone replacement therapy, because while all hormones are important, some of them contribute to aging more than others, such as melatonin, growth hormone, or l hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
- Genetics.
Certain genetic factors can influence the rate of human aging. For example, there may be a genetic predisposition to reduced collagen production or an increased sensitivity to environmental factors that accelerate aging.
In summary, changing lifestyle habits by eliminating stress, eating healthy, exercising, and getting a good night’s rest delays the physical and mental signs of aging.
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