Dr. Kristina Radina, an internist, points out that it is impossible to determine precisely how much a particular behavior affects life expectancy, but statistics provide clear indications in this regard.
According to the doctor, several factors can shorten life expectancy by 10 to 15 years. For example, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day can reduce life expectancy by 7 to 10 years. Consuming foods containing carcinogens, including various types of processed meats, can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, potentially reducing life expectancy by 2 to 15 years.
It indicates that poor environmental conditions and constant exposure to car exhaust negatively affect health, as living in a polluted environment may reduce life expectancy by between 5 and 7 years.
She adds that physical inactivity, particularly prolonged sitting, can reduce life expectancy by 7 to 10 years. She also points out that pregnancy and childbirth place significant strain on the body. While there is no conclusive evidence that they shorten lifespan, some studies suggest they may contribute to telomere shortening , the protective ends of chromosomes, which could be associated with a 5 to 10-year reduction in life expectancy.
She says: “Above all, we must rely on studying the family’s medical history and paying attention to early disease prevention. Diseases such as cancer, obesity-related diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure are among the most prominent factors that shorten life expectancy. If family members have a history of these diseases, the risk of developing them increases, and when they do occur, life expectancy may decrease by about 10 years.”
The doctor emphasizes the importance of preventing heart attacks and strokes, as they can be fatal at any time. She also stresses the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, because physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, and excessive consumption of processed foods all accelerate health decline and shorten lifespan.
She adds that the habit of adding salt to food may reduce life expectancy by three to five years, because excessive salt intake, along with other risk factors, exacerbates vascular problems and raises blood pressure. Salt also leads to fluid retention, which temporarily increases blood volume and raises blood pressure.
She says: “Constant traffic congestion is another factor that promotes physical inactivity, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and lung cancer, and may shorten life by about 10 years. Long-haul truck drivers are also at risk of what is known as ‘truck driver’s disease,’ as the side of their face closest to the window is constantly exposed to sunlight, while they rarely use sunscreen, increasing the risk of photoaging and skin cancer, which may also shorten life by about 10 years.”
