There is a "cut" to lifespan that makes the body age faster than smoking, but few pay attention

Research shows that this factor affects health and accelerates the aging process more than smoking.

Study Reveals What Causes Rapid Aging

A study published in the journal Aging-US has found that loneliness and negative emotions can accelerate the aging process more than smoking.

Scientists from the biotechnology company Deep Long Life analyzed data and measured the biological age (*) of nearly 12,000 participants in the study.

(*): Biological age refers to how much younger or older one is compared to their chronological age based on their date of birth.

The results indicate that psychological factors and negative emotions can cause the body to age faster than the habit of smoking. Specifically, the study identified that smoking adds about 1.25 years to biological age, while loneliness and negative emotions such as sadness, fear, and despair can increase biological age by 1.65 years.

Fedor Galkin, the lead author of the study, stated: “Our research results emphasize that psychological factors should not be overlooked in studies on aging, as they can significantly impact an individual’s biological age.”

“Mental and psychological states are among the key factors for improving quality of life and health. However, they are often neglected in current healthcare services,” Galkin continued.

Negative emotions accelerate aging. (Illustrative image).

Expert Zhang Han, a former director of the Institute of Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted: “In psychology, emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, disappointment, sadness, and pain are collectively termed negative emotions. Such emotional experiences can harm the mind as well as various parts of the body.”

Specifically, the expert explained that negative emotions can affect:

The Digestive System: Long-term negative emotions can lead to digestive issues such as indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, enteritis, and unexplained abdominal pain.

Endocrine System: Individuals who frequently experience stress, anxiety, and anger are at a higher risk of thyroid disease.

Cardiovascular Health: Emotions like anxiety and anger stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, causing the body to release large amounts of adrenaline. Adrenaline increases heart rate and blood pressure, and prolonged exposure can harm cardiovascular health. In fact, research indicates that individuals who are easily angered are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those who are less angry.

How to Manage Negative Emotions?

Expert Zhang Han advises that while we cannot completely avoid feelings of sadness, anxiety, or anger in life, we can certainly manage negative emotions and gradually gain control over our feelings.

Dr. Yuan Dongqi, head of the Psychology Department at Southeast University Hospital in China, suggests the following methods to stabilize negative emotions.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping for 8 hours each night can help the body release sufficient dopamine, keeping you happy and energized throughout the day.

2. Exercise Regularly

– Running can boost endorphin release and quickly alleviate anxiety;

– Walking for 30 minutes to an hour can promote the secretion of dopamine.

Regular exercise quickly alleviates anxiety. (Illustrative image)

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Dopamine is synthesized from tyrosine. Healthy foods like beans, seafood, dairy products, and nuts are rich in tyrosine. Regularly consuming these foods helps keep the body healthy and energized.