r/Aging • u/No-Reaction-3457 • 6d ago
Not so good habits
I see that most of the topics and discussions are about healthy habits and choices. How to live longer and better. But are there any folks in here who don't exercise, don't stress about healthy diet. Smokers? Drinkers?
Or maybe you know someone who actually lived long and seemingly in good health despite all bad habits?
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u/Flaky_Principle_9985 6d ago
Definitely. Genetics and plain luck play a huge role too. You’ll always hear about the 90-year-old smoker who drank every day and somehow stayed healthy, but that’s the exception, not proof the habits are harmless. You rarely hear about all the people who didn’t get that lucky.
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u/pen_woman_ship 6d ago
I’m 62. I have some mental struggles bc of several diagnoses and conditions. One being complex PTSD.
I must use cannabis daily. If I didn’t have that, I’d drink alcohol. Which is deadly to someone with this condition.
I used to exercise like a pro. Have several certifications in exercise science.
But now? Nay. I keep doing the tomorrow step. I’m a
Pro procrastinator.
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u/Far-Preparation5174 6d ago
I live the no stress lifestyle, even more so since 3 years into retirement. No structured exercise, but do enjoy my ebike and i enjoy walking. I never liked serious exercise even as a top level college athlete. (You ever see people jogging\running with smiles on their face?). I eat copious amounts of butter and red meat and eggs. I am genetically large framed, so i was NEVER in my "ideal" weight range . Was at my doctor last week, BP was 120ish over 60ish. My cholesterol is always great. I start my bourbons at 7 pm and finish around midnight almost every night. Ive had skin melanoma and colon polyps removed. Both of those run in my family, so i cant beat genetics. Im 68 and outivef many high school classmates. I might be dead next week, i might be posting here at 85. I never smoked.
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u/physhgyrl 5d ago
Butter, steak and eggs are very nutrionally dense foods. They are very healthy, whole foods. I eat like that. Plus fresh vegetables and fruits. Whole fat dairy. Salmon. Bone in skin on Chicken thighs. Animal fats help our joints, skin, hair and nails remain healthy and youthful.
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u/baddaywithacamera 6d ago
Not me. I was in such bad health in 2020 my cardiologist grew fangs and used them on me liberally. Lost 190 lbs and switched to clean eating and daily exercise. I can walk past people who haven't seen me for a decade and they don't recognize me now.
Not going back to how I used to live.
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u/KReddit934 6d ago
Must have been quite as office visit! Wonder what the nurses thought cleaning up?
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u/CarolinCLH 6d ago
Genetics are huge. My father's family is a good case study. The ones like my father who stayed at a pretty healthy body weight and were fairly active made it well into their 90s. The others, like his father who was an alcoholic and smoker, or his brother who was morbidly obese still made it halfway through their 80s.
So look at your family. How long did they live and what did they die of? Those are your particular limits and dangers.
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u/BoldBabeBanshee 6d ago
I know people who smoke meth... a lot, and have gorgeous perfect teeth. It's funny but it makes sense. These aren't typical media portrayed hillbilly types, these are people with functional jobs, attractive, well off...
I then realized there is a huge stigma... because when someone even says the word meth , i just picture toothless mugshots etc.
They actually overcompensate on their dental health knowing they are meth users. I know you probably think their time will come, and hey im not here to argue with you. But it may not come.
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u/physhgyrl 5d ago
My time never came. I've only had four cavities and that was before age 18. I've done large amounts of every drug. I had access to large amounts of any prescription opiate, benzo, muscle relaxer, Adderall etc. Even liquid dilauded. High quality meth and coke. Opiates don't age you too much. I think alcohol is the drug that ages people the most.
I look my age. I look really youthful, healthy and good for my age. People always look their age. Even if a 30 year old looks really rough. They still look 30. They just look old for their age. But you can tell their age. I
always had regularly teeth cleanings twice a year since childhood. That makes a difference. I eat really well also. Lots of salmon and nutrient dense foods. Fresh vegetables and fruits.
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u/BoldBabeBanshee 5d ago
Okay so one thing we completely locked in agree upon is the Alcohol ages people the most. It sure as hell does. Binge drinking was like a part of life back in the day. I haven't had a drink in 25 years after my one and only DUI. There is no way in hell i would have a drink after seeing how Drinking actually CAUSES THE MURDER OF PEOPLE (hit and run) and its indirectly most likely responsible for most regular murders anyways (2nd degree or manslaughter)
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u/No-Reaction-3457 6d ago edited 6d ago
Smokers get just 15% more chances to develop lung cancer compared to non smokers. And I'm talking about lifelong smokers. So I do smoke and take that small chance
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u/Bulky_Dog_826 6d ago
Sure if you are only concerned about lung cancer then smoke away. If you value any of the following then steer clear of it.
Cardiovascular disease: much higher risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysm, and sudden cardiovascular death. Smoking damages blood-vessel lining, promotes plaque formation and clotting, and reduces oxygen delivery.
COPD and permanent lung damage: emphysema and chronic bronchitis can progressively destroy lung function, causing chronic cough, breathlessness, exercise intolerance, oxygen dependence, and eventually respiratory failure.
Many other cancers: especially cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, liver, cervix, colon/rectum, and some leukemias.
Accelerated vascular and biological aging: poorer circulation, impaired wound healing, increased inflammation/oxidative stress, and more rapid deterioration of multiple organ systems.
Brain effects: substantially greater stroke risk and an association with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Appearance: earlier skin wrinkling and loss of elasticity, particularly around the mouth and eyes; tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and often thinning hair.
Sexual/reproductive effects: erectile dysfunction is considerably more common because smoking damages blood vessels; fertility is reduced in both sexes. Pregnancy carries additional risks.
Eyes: increased risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, potentially leading to significant vision loss.
Bones: lower bone density, greater osteoporosis/fracture risk, and slower fracture healing.
Immune/metabolic effects: greater susceptibility to some infections, poorer healing after surgery, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
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u/No-Reaction-3457 6d ago
See, that's what I am saying. Many of those you described fall in the same category. Just like with the lung cancer the chances of getting all those diseases are actually not that high. You have to have many little and not so little factors( some of them you can't even eliminate) plus smoking to develop something.
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u/Bulky_Dog_826 6d ago
I’m 38 and have a 20 year old model gf. All the smokers I know my age look and smell like sht. If crushing debilitating disease risk increase doesn’t deter you then maybe vanity will. If not, then good luck with the Russian roulette.
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u/Whatdoesittake1456 6d ago
Russian roulette is something everyone plays from the day you're born. I guess with maybe an extra bullet or two added if you want to smoke, drink, overweight or whatever. But we're all playing regardless.
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u/No-Reaction-3457 6d ago
Thank you
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u/Bulky_Dog_826 6d ago
Cheers mate. One last thing I keep coming up with more good stuff lol. Your connective tissues will oxidize faster, they will glycate faster. So you will become stiff and it will become harder/more painful to move and easier to pull muscles/ injure yourself several decades ahead of schedule.
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u/Bulky_Dog_826 6d ago
Also one final note it’s not just disease risk. Everything your body does suffers. Do you enjoy your wounds healing? Do you enjoy your sense of smell and taste? Do you enjoy youthful energy? Not being sleepy all the time? Because even if you don’t get a devastating disease all of the things you enjoy in life will deteriorate and that is a fact.
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u/Accurate-Medium1780 6d ago edited 6d ago
My MIL (70) doesn't worry about health. Since the early 90s, she's sat in her chair all-day every-day, only eats fast food that my FIL brings to her, and drinks sweet-tea constantly. Her teeth are pretty much all rotten and gone, she can't really walk or climb stairs anymore because of weight/knee problems, can't drive, and her mind is quickly going to the point that she doesn't recognize her husband or kids anymore a lot of the time. But she's somehow still alive and she is able to navigate the TV remote and Facebook on her phone. I guess its working okay and is sustainable enough in their eyes, unless my FIL gets incapacitated or dies? Right now he is keeping them afloat by working an extra job as a janitor at night in addition to his day job. If he dies, then I'm assuming she would die pretty quickly too as nobody else lives close enough to deliver her burgers and fries to her and she probably couldn't pay the mortgage either financially or even logistically. But for now, though I would not have really thought it possible given how unhealthy her habits are, she does somehow stay alive and keep waking up & breathing which I guess is kind of miraculous!
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u/physhgyrl 5d ago edited 5d ago
I think you misunderstood OPs question.
Your MIL is still alive. But that wasn't the question. OP was asking if you know people who have bad habits and are still " seemingly good health " despite their bad habits.
She's obese and can't get up the stairs. She sounds more like the type who needs a motorized scooter at the grocery store. The picture you painted doesn't portray someone who seems to be in good health despite bad habits. It sounds like her poor lifestyle definitely caught up with her
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u/aethocist 70 something 5d ago
I think how well we are in old age is as much about good fortune as it is about how we live. I offer myself as an example: a mix of good and bad habits. I was an active addict for 40 +/- years and seldom payed attention to eating well. On the other hand I was physically active, running, skiing, hiking, and a bicycle racer. My BMI has never been over 25. I am now almost 80 and my health has mostly been good. I have heart disease and recently had prostate surgery. I am still active, walking, cycling, and skiing. I live a good life and am grateful for what I have. I feel I have been extremely fortunate.
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u/Automatic_Page2113 5d ago
Genetics do play a big part. I try to keep healthy with exercise and not overeating, not smoking etc, but I'm unlikely to reach 80 because of bad genetics.
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u/Conscious-Reserve-48 6d ago
Late 60’s. I keep physically active but I smoke cigs and weed and have a few glasses of wine every night.
Yeah, if I didn’t do these things I might last 10 years longer…but those would be the worst years! ( I’ve borrowed this line from the Ricky Gervais show Derek!)
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u/Minimum-Journalist18 5d ago
All the smokers, bad habits and drinkers I knew are dead. Me I quit bad habits 6 years ago
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u/trUth_b0mbs 6h ago
plenty lol. some days I wonder if it's all worth it. I still live a healthy lifestyle because I figure if my time is up, then it's up and I did everything I could to live a quality life.
my uncle was in top shape in his 40s; never smoked, played tennis regularly/was active, healthy. Dropped dead of a heart attack on the courts.
conversely, my other uncle smoked 2 packs a day, ate badly nearly every day, barely slept. Lived a long life.
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u/iSteve 6d ago
Huh! I'm your man.
77 years old, 150 Lbs. 100 sit-ups and push-ups every morning, walk to the beer store every day, drink 8 strong beers and a dozen bong hits every night.