Doctor explains risks of the ‘single worst thing you can do to your body’
A doctor has opened up on something which a lot of people do every day and can be detrimental to their long-term health.
In the age of social media, it feels like everyone is an expert on health and wellbeing, with some even urging their followers to try extreme diets or lifestyles.
Couple this with the fact that more people than ever before are using GLP-1 injections in an effort to lose weight, and while they may not be the most traditional methods to hit your goals, it seems like the world is on a fitness kick.
This is despite the reality that many of these methods can lead to some potentially grim side effects - but according to a doctor, there's one habit which can massively impact all your hard work.
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Dr Jeremy London, who has over 378,000 subscribers on YouTube, explained that smoking is the 'single worst thing you can do' to the human body.
While drinking a glass of red wine (in moderation, of course) can be good for the antioxidants, there are no redeeming health benefits when it comes to smoking. Studies even suggest that every time you smoke, you are shortening your life by about 20 minutes.
In a video shared last year, the cardiovascular surgeon explained: "Top three preventable risk factors for all-cause mortality. Smoking, poor diet, and high blood pressure. Now, let's start with the worst offender, smoking.
"It is without question the single worst thing you can do for your body. It damages nearly every organ system, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and is responsible for the vast majority of lung cancer deaths."
While vaping has overtaken smoking in popularity, with an ONS survey revealing that 5.4 million Brits use vapes and 4.9 million prefer the traditional cigarette, Cancer Research UK states that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the country.
The charity also notes that smoking causes more than six in 10 cases of the disease in the UK.
He further stated: "Roughly one in five deaths are linked to tobacco use. If you smoke, think long and hard about quitting. It's the most powerful step you can take for your health."
Dr London added that a poor diet and high blood pressure could also cut your life short, saying: "Diets low in fruits and vegetables, high in trans fats, and ultra-processed foods contribute to the same proportion of deaths as smoking, mainly from cardiovascular disease."
He noted that high blood pressure is 'the silent killer', affecting every other American while most have no idea.
"The good news is it's highly modifiable through lifestyle, diet, stress management, and medication when necessary. Be proactive, not reactive," Dr London said of the health condition.
Health effects of smoking
When it comes to smoking, the NHS warns that many people 'may not realise just how far-reaching its damage can be'.
The site lists a number of health risks that are heightened due to the habit, which could be more reason to kick it for good.
- Dementia
- Damage to your joints
- Digestive issues
- Hearing and vision loss
- High blood pressure
Impact of quitting smoking
According to the NHS, the 'sooner you quit, the sooner you'll notice changes to your body and health'.
Surprisingly, Medical News Today explains that the effects can be felt in as little as 20 minutes.
For more information on quitting smoking, you can visit the NHS' Quit Smoking page here.
Joshua Nair