“Shocking Age Revealed: When Your Vices Start Cashing in on Your Health!”

Ever wondered when your wild twenties and slightly less wild thirties are supposed to come back and haunt you? Well, scientists seem to think they’ve pegged the exact moment your body decides to start tallying up all those late nights, cigarettes, and “just one more episode” binges—it’s the ripe old age of 36. I mean, who knew that the moment your passport to the fun years expired was the same time you suddenly needed a passport to health?

Ah, youth, where we all smoke like the world’s on fire and drink coffee like it’s water because, you know, we’re invincible. But as it turns out, those “invincible” days might just catch up sooner than we think.

Researchers, or as I like to call them, the party poopers from Finland’s Laurea University, did a longitudinal study on lifestyle choices among baby boomers and found some jaw-dropping results:

– If you boozed, smoked, and spent your time on the couch more than hitting the gym, by 36, you’re likely in for a health hangover that could last a lifetime.
– The catch? It’s not just physical; mental health takes a hit too. So, not only are your lungs screaming for mercy, but your brain is also on strike.

Now, if you’re thinking, “So what? I’ve got time,” consider this: Adele, Lizzo, A$AP Rocky, and Rupert Grint are all 36 right now. Celebrities are just like us, except they can afford better personal trainers and nutritionists, but even they’re not immune to the laws of aging.

But here’s the flip side, even if you’re approaching or have passed the dreaded 36, Dr. Tiia Kekäläinen swears by the mantra, “It’s never too late!” Which sounds like a fail-safe for when your New Year's resolutions tank by March.

So, if you’re out there, lounging with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of wine questioning your choices, maybe this study is your sign to pivot. Swap the smokes for something healthier, like… a carrot stick? (Or at least an e-cig, I guess?)

And remember, while this age might seem like the cliff before the health abyss, it’s really just the start of another journey—one where you might need to pay a bit more attention to what you’re putting in your body.

We’ve all got our vices – whether that be drinking, smoking, or anything in between.

And when you’ve got youth on your side, the consequences of these bad habits rarely cross your mind – as at the end of the day, it’s future you’s problem. But according to new research, the ramifications of late nights, lazy days with no exercise and choosing unhealthy options can come back to bite you sooner than you think.

Boffins at Finland‘s Laurea University of Applied Sciences conducted a study which found that those who throw caution to the wind in their younger years often end up paying the price with their health.

Experts tracked the health of hundreds of children who were born in 1959 up until they turned 61, in the hopes of finding out how lifestyle choices can impact your quality of life and lifespan.

The participants had health checks conducted on them at the ages of 27, 36, 42, 50 and 61, while they also underwent full medical exams each year after turning 42.

After compiling all of this health data up until 2020, the researchers found some interesting results among those who had consistently smoked, boozed and didn’t really bother exercising.

Habits like smoking, drinking booze regularly and slouching around can lead to issues later down the line (Getty Stock Image)

It emerged that those who had engaged in these unhealthy habits in their heyday were more susceptible to both physical and mental health struggles by their mid-30s.

Scientists even claim to have discovered the exact age it all starts going downhill… 36.

To put that into a bit of context for you, the likes of Adele, Lizzo, A$AP Rocky and Rupert Grint are all this age – so I guess we best keep an eye out on them lot from now on.

According to the study, there was a greater risk of hitting this health slump at 36 for those who had indulged in unhealthy habits over longer periods of time.

Essentially, the more vices that a participant had and the longer they continued to use them, the greater the impact on their health.

Dr Tiia Kekäläinen, the study’s lead author, said: “Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviours as early as possible to prevent damage from building up over the years.

“Bad habits in youth culminate in poor mental and physical health later in later life. Heart disease and cancer cause almost three-quarters of deaths worldwide.

Boffins reassured people it’s never too late to turn things around (Getty Stock Image)

“But by following a healthy lifestyle, an individual can cut their risk of developing these illnesses and reduce their odds of an early death,” Dr Kekäläinen explained.

“It is never too late to change to healthier habits. Adopting healthier habits in midlife also has benefits for older age.”

It seems the overwhelming message here is quit while your ahead, folks.

Faltering physical health was linked to exercising less than once a week, while those who smoked were more susceptible to suffering poor mental health, while alcohol led to a decline in both of these.

Dr Kekäläinen said that the results show that ‘preventing these behaviours early in adulthood and midlife is crucial to avoid their accumulation and subsequent health risks’.

However, she insists it’s never too late to turn things around – especially if you are still under the age of 36.

So if you needed a sign to stop smoking like a chimney, drinking like a fish and lounging around like a couch potato, this might be it.