Poor sleep, stress, smoking and lifestyle choices can quietly damage the body over time
A senior heart surgeon has warned that everyday habits—often ignored in the short term—can significantly accelerate ageing and increase the risk of long-term health issues.
Dr Jeremy London, who has over 25 years of experience, highlighted five key habits that can speed up the ageing process, stressing that while ageing is inevitable, how the body ages largely depends on lifestyle choices.
Smoking and Vaping
According to Dr London, smoking and vaping are among the fastest ways to age the body. These habits increase oxidative stress, damage DNA, and negatively impact nearly every organ system, reducing overall longevity.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Even regular workouts cannot fully offset the damage caused by prolonged sitting. A lack of movement affects oxygen delivery, slows metabolism, and weakens mitochondrial function, all of which contribute to faster ageing.
Obesity and Poor Diet
Excess body fat—especially visceral fat around internal organs—plays a major role in chronic diseases. It increases inflammation, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction, making diet and weight management crucial for healthy ageing.
Chronic Stress
Persistent stress, whether emotional or financial, keeps stress hormones like cortisol elevated. Over time, this leads to inflammation, disrupts DNA regulation, and shortens telomeres—key markers linked to ageing.
Poor Sleep
Sleep is essential for the body’s repair and recovery processes. Inadequate sleep can impair DNA repair, disrupt hormone balance, and increase the risk of various diseases, accelerating the ageing process.
Dr London emphasised that while genetics play a role, lifestyle choices have a powerful influence on how the body ages. Making healthier daily decisions can significantly improve long-term wellbeing and slow down the ageing process.