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New York Post
28-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This age window is the most important decade for your health — 3 habits to take up immediately
Talk about pour decisions. While the effects of partying late into the night may not be apparent in your 20s, a new study out of Finland suggests that all that revelry finally catches up to you at 36. Researchers advise that the decade between 36 and 46 is a critical time for shaping future health, even going so far as to highlight three wholesome habits to increase the odds of a long, healthy life. 4 The decade between 36 and 46 is a critical time for shaping future health, according to a new study out of Finland. Nicholas Felix/ – 'The decade between 36-46 is important as it marks the bridge to the later years of life,' Dr. Angela Wilson, a gynecologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in NYC, told The Post. 'The risk of various diseases increases, and prevention, early diagnosis and intervention are paramount,' added Wilson, who was not involved in the new research. The study followed a few hundred children born in the Finnish city of Jyväskylä in 1959 until their early 60s. Mental and physical health data were collected when the participants were 27, 36, 42, 50 and 61. Researchers assessed their blood pressure, waist size, blood sugar, cholesterol and other blood fats as participants answered questions about their psychological wellbeing. The study authors noted whether they smoked, drank heavily or exercised less than once a week at any point in time. These three vices fueled mental and physical woes, often felt as early as 36. 'Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviors, such as smoking, heavy drinking and physical inactivity, as early as possible to prevent the damage they do from building up over the years, culminating in poor mental and physical health in later life,' said lead study author Tiia Kekäläinen, a health scientist who focuses on aging. 4 Reducing alcohol intake lowers the risk of hypertension, liver disease, certain cancers and improves sleep and mental health. kamiphotos – The results, recently published in the Annals of Medicine, come amid a startling increase in heart disease, stroke and some cancers among people under 50. While researchers are still investigating the exact reasons, certain lifestyle factors and environmental exposures are being implicated in these rising rates. Obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and exposure to environmental toxins are among the leading culprits. 4 Quitting smoking reduces cardiovascular risk and cancer risk and improves lung function and life expectancy. Nopphon – 'When it comes to cardiovascular disease or diabetes, for example, those looking to reduce their risk typically focus on behavioral factors such as diet and physical activity,' environmental epidemiologist Maayan Yitshak-Sade told The Post. 'Even small changes in our daily lives — such as improving ventilation while cooking or walking instead of driving when possible — can significantly reduce these harmful exposures and consequently reduce cardiovascular risk,' added Yitshak-Sade, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 4 Even small bouts of exercise can help improve physical and mental health. New Africa – Dr. Sanjai Sinha, an internist with Mount Sinai's Hudson Yards practice, said it's important to avoid smoking and drinking and establish good habits around exercise, diet and sleep — just not necessarily from 36 to 46. 'I don't agree that there is a magic decade to get healthy, rather the earlier the better,' he told The Post. He said it's crucial to be proactive before hormone levels naturally decline, making it harder to change routines. Lower testosterone 'can lead to gradually lower muscle strength or energy levels,' Sinha explained. 'Most women are not in menopause yet, but once that happens (average age: 51), issues with sleep, joint aches, energy, brain fog all can occur.' Dr. Alice S. Teich — a primary care doctor at Montefiore Medical Group in Westchester — echoed the need for quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol and aiming for daily movement and weekly structured exercise. She noted that it's quite common to feel the cumulative effects of lifestyle choices, like weight gain, elevated blood pressure, fatigue and stiffness, between 36 and 46. 'The key isn't perfection — it's taking action,' Teich told The Post. 'Establishing consistent, healthy habits during this window can significantly reduce long-term risk and improve quality of life.'
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Some like it hot — the benefits of sauna and steam
Bara Bada Bastu (Let's Just Sauna) is the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest this year and, according to the odds, it's the 'hot' favourite. Saunas originated in Finland more than 2,000 years ago and were used for bathing, healing and socialising, among other benefits. Using heated hot stones to produce dry heat, they became a central part of Nordic culture. Steam bathing, by contrast, dates back to the Roman Empire, when Romans used public baths daily while conducting business in a relaxed environment. Bathhouses or thermae were open to all and included steam rooms, changing areas, exercise rooms, swimming pools, cooling rooms, and massage spaces. The main differences between saunas and steam rooms are the temperature and humidity levels. A traditional Finnish sauna is heated to a temperature between 40°C and 90°C with a humidity of around 10%. The temperature in a steam room is usually between 45°C and 50°C with 100% humidity. Both saunas and steam rooms expose the body to hot air, but saunas stimulate sweating in an attempt to lower body temperature, whereas steam rooms reduce the body's ability to sweat. You may feel like you're sweating more in a steam room, but the droplets on your body are more likely to be condensed water from the humid air than perspiration. It is difficult to say which is better for your health. There is more research on saunas than steam rooms, and not enough high-quality evidence directly comparing the two types to make any meaningful statements about health differences yet. However, research groups are studying this topic, so we should keep an eye on this space. In the meantime, here's what we do know: Congestion A comprehensive review in the Cochrane Library (2017) found mixed results regarding the improvement of congestion associated with the use of steam rooms. Some participants had reduced symptoms of congestion, and others experienced discomfort while inhaling steam. Steam was found to improve the headaches associated with sinus symptoms but not other symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Inflammation The evidence for reducing inflammation is stronger for sauna bathing than steam bathing. The evidence for reducing inflammation is stronger for sauna bathing than steam bathing. A study in the Annals of Medicine (2018) suggested that reduced markers for inflammation in regular sauna bathers could explain why sauna bathing is linked to lower levels of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes and cancer. Stress Sitting in a steam room can help you relax, but the science behind this is unclear. Some researchers suggest that heat helps release endorphins, the feel-good hormones that reduce stress and anxiety. Others suggest that steam room sessions help to reduce cortisol — the stress hormone. Sitting in a steam room can help you relax, but the science behind this is unclear. Some researchers suggest that heat helps release endorphins, the feel-good hormones that reduce stress and anxiety. Others suggest that steam room sessions help to reduce cortisol — the stress hormone. Skin health Environmental exposure can predispose you to various toxins being trapped beneath your skin. Steam baths help to open pores and cleanse the skin. The warm condensation rinses away dirt and dead skin that can block pores and lead to breakouts, making skin clearer and improving the evenness of skin tone. Research from the Arthritis Foundation indicates that heat can be beneficial in easing stiff joints and alleviating muscle pain in individuals with arthritis. The heat in saunas and steam rooms causes blood vessels to expand, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to flow to inflamed tissues. This can promote relaxation in both muscles and joints. Cardiovascular health Saunas originated in Finland more than 2,000 years ago and were used for bathing, healing and socialising, among other benefits. Using heated hot stones to produce dry heat, they became a central part of Nordic culture. A recent study from Japan, published in Heart (2020), that followed more than 30,000 people over 20 years found that those who took hot baths nearly every day reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by more than a quarter (28%) compared to those who took hot baths less than twice a week. Similarly, the risk of stroke was reduced by 26%. In 2018, a review in Mayo Clinical Proceedings linked frequent sauna bathing (four to seven times a week) to lower blood pressure and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac death and stroke. Both steam rooms and saunas offer potential health benefits, but there are a few things to consider. Staying in a steam room for more than 15 minutes can lead to dehydration and fainting is not uncommon in saunas. Experts advise sipping water while in a sauna or immediately afterwards. A steam room can be a host to other people's germs, so avoid it if you are pregnant, immunocompromised or recovering from surgery. I enjoy taking saunas with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the cost and Irish weather preclude me from doing this several times a week year-round, as is the case in Nordic countries. I often use the sauna for 15 to 20 minutes after a swim. In the summer, I enjoy using an outdoor sauna for an hour, interspersed with two or three dips in the ocean. The available evidence suggests that it is beneficial for my cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of chronic disease. My experience is that it leads to an immediate sense of wellbeing, banishes anxieties, eases aches and pains in muscles and joints and sets me up for a long and uninterrupted sleep at the end of the day. For me, saunas are definitely a 'hot' favourite. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor Read More How to strengthen your heart with a brisk walking routine
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists reveal exact moment alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise starts to wreak havoc on your body
Many people employ the adage that you're only young once to justify making the most of your teens and twenties, yet new information from scientists gives a different meaning to the saying as the effects of smoking, drinking, and a lack of exercise are revealed. It's not exactly rocket science to understand that unhealthy habits aren't the best for your body, yet it's often chalked off as something you can deal with and sort out down the line while current you doesn't have to face the problem. Doctors have already warned that consuming too much unhealthy food can lead to a premature death, and even 'miracle' weight loss drugs like Ozempic can't make up for an unhealthy lifestyle. However, one new scientific study has revealed the exact moment that your body begins to experience the long-term negative effects of harmful habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and a lack of exercise, and it's likely to shock you with how early it occurs. As reported by the New York Post, the study published in Annals of Medicine by researchers from the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland outlines that you begin to experience fast-tracked negative effects as early as your mid thirties. Dr. Tiia Kekäläinen, lead author of the study, has argued that its findings highlight the importance of tackling these 'bad habits' as early as possible, as they can have an extremely detrimental effect on your body and health as you age. Previous studies have linked high alcohol consumption with increased mortality rates, and worrying simulations showing the effect of binge drinking in the short term are certainly enough to give you pause for thought when it comes to your next pint or shot. Alcohol, as illustrated by the study, is linked to outcomes including increased depressive symptoms, lower psychological well-being, lower self-rated health, and greater metabolic risk factors, proving to be a dangerous cocktail of health issues that'll hit you sooner than you might think. If you're a keen smoker, you're also at risk of poorer mental well-being, whereas those who shy away from physical activity in their teens and twenties are often susceptible to health conditions as they grow older. The research conducted within the paper concludes that these behaviors "were associated with poorer mental well-being and health," insisting that "preventing these behaviors early in adulthood and midlife is crucial to avoid their accumulation and subsequent health risks." You certainly shouldn't see your life as a closed book though with no chance to amend your health, as Dr. Kekäläinen has urged that "it is never too late to change to healthier habits. Adopting healthier habits in midlife also has benefits for older age." Therefore there's no reason you can't make a change in your life, as while the effects have been shown to begin relatively early on in life, they'll only continue to grow and get worse if a shift to a healthier lifestyle isn't made.
Times
29-04-2025
- Health
- Times
Unhealthy habits hit hard after we're 36. Is it too late for you?
If you're reading this while still feeling the effects from a weekend of wine or late nights, chances are you're over 36. This is the age that Finnish researchers have found unhealthy habits like drinking, smoking or inactivity begin to take their toll on our health. Writing in the journal Annals of Medicine, the study author Dr Tiia Kekäläinen said the findings highlighted the importance of tackling unhealthy behaviours, 'as early as possible to prevent the damage they do from building up over the years, culminating in poor mental and physical health later in life.' These include an increased risk of depression, cancer, heart disease and early death. 'I don't think it's a surprise to anyone over 40 that you recover quicker from a weekend
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Age 36 is when ill-effects of unhealthy habits during young adulthood start to show, study suggests
A study has suggested that age 36 is when the ill-effects of having unhealthy habits as a young adult — smoking, drinking and physical inactivity — start becoming apparent. Researchers from the University of Jyvaskyla tracked about 370 residents of the Finnish city for over 30 years. Data was collected via surveys and medical tests at ages 27, 36, 42, 50 and 61. Three bad habits — smoking, heavy drinking and a lack of exercise — can lead to declines in health in people as young as 36, according to findings published in the journal Annals of Medicine. The team said that unhealthy behaviours in mid-life — 40s and 50s — are known to increase chances of developing health disorders in old age. However, their analysis showed that the ill-effects of unhealthy behaviours remained similar through the ages 36 to 61, suggesting that the link exists already at age 36 and not only in the later phases of mid-life. Crucially, the ill-effects were apparent by the time the participants were in their mid-30s, the researchers said. 'Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviours, such as smoking, heavy drinking and physical inactivity, as early as possible to prevent the damage they do to from building up over the years, culminating in poor mental and physical health later in later life,' lead author Tiia Kekalainen, a health scientist at the University of Jyvaskyla's Gerontology Research Center. However, following a healthy lifestyle can cut one's risk of developing non-communicable disorders such as heart disease and cancer, and reduce chances of an early death, Kekalainen added. A lack of exercise was particularly linked to a poor physical health, and smoking to a poor mental health. Three bad habits — smoking, heavy drinking and a lack of exercise — can lead to declines in health (/Thinkstock) A heavy consumption of alcohol was, however, associated with declines in both mental and physical health. The three unhealthy behaviours were seen to produce stronger ill-effects over a longer term, through increasing depressive symptoms and metabolic risks. 'The findings of the present study suggest that the associations were mainly similar across time from age 36 to 61. Thus, the cumulative association of earlier risky behaviours exists already at age 36 and not only in the later phases of midlife,' the authors wrote. The study's participants were part of a larger long-term research, in which children born in Jyvaskyla in 1959 were followed until their early 60s.
