blake
Aging is inescapable, and it should be recognized as a blessing—not so much early aging. “How can one person enjoy good health while another appears old before her time? For millennia, humans have pondered this question, and advances in science are demonstrating that the variations between people’s rates of aging are due to complex interactions among their genes, environments, social networks, and lifestyles,” explain Elizabeth Blackburn. According to specialists here’s what may age you by 20 years.
1 — Loud Noise
“Not usually something my patients’ worry about until they start to suffer the consequences of loud noises,” said Mona Brownfield, MD. “Lawn mowers, boats, movie theaters, and vacuuming are all examples of loud noises that I refer to when I say loud noises. Long exposure to loud noise can harm the tiny hair cells in our ears that transport sound to our brains. Once those hairs have been broken, they cannot grow back and the fewer hairs we have in our ears, the worse our hearing is. When performing any lengthy periods of high volume louder than a normal conversation, use ear protection or other defensive gear.”
2 — Stress
Chronic stress can speed up cell aging, and it has a detrimental impact on your skin. “Telomeres are a protective cap at the end of DNA,” explains Dr. Epel. “When the telomere becomes too short, the cell normally dies or becomes pro-inflammatory, setting the aging mechanism in motion as well as numerous health concerns. Stress is now a consistent indicator of a shorter telomere lengths, according to two main variables: chronology and genetics. Stress, in general, has a detrimental influence on our health. When we are stressed out, it messes with our bodies in really minute ways that accumulate over time. Both stress and sleep loss have been shown to decrease telomerase activity.”
3 — UV Rays
According to dermatologists, too much sun can cause wrinkles and tiny lines. “Light damage of the skin leads to accelerated aging,” explains Melanie Palm, MD. “Infrared light and Visible (HEV), which are different aspects of the light spectrum, are also responsible. There’s no need for photoaging; we can keep our skin looking young for decades if only we take care of it.”
4 — Smoking Can Age You 20 Years
You will age faster if you smoke, on both the surface and cellular levels. “Not only does smoking damage our skin’s suppleness and strength, it can reduce the size of the blood vessels and restrict the oxygen our skin receives, resulting in creased, drooping skin,” says Dr. Brownfield. “We don’t usually think of DNA in our hair follicles as a living entity, yet cigarettes’ poisonous chemicals might really harm that DNA and cause your hair to thin, turn gray or even fall out altogether. And nicotine is the primary chemical responsible for teeth discoloration and wrinkled skin because it causes stains on your teeth and skin that give it an aged yellow tone.”
