Beware of this abuse at a young age because it ages the arteries and anticipates cardiovascular disease

Good, like bad habits, often take root from a young age. For example, a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress studied the effects of smoking and drinking alcohol between the ages of 17 and 24.

According to the study, these possible abuses at a young age would cause premature aging of the arteries. In particular, there is a direct link between the habit of drinking from an early age and the premature stiffening of blood vessels.

Loss of elasticity of the arteries is usually more common with advancing age. Not only that, but this stiffening is also associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Therefore, we illustrate a summary of the research that invites us to pay attention to this abuse at a young age because it ages the arteries and anticipates cardiovascular disease.

The details of the study presented at the ESC Congress

The study considered 1,655 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) between 17 and 24 years of age.

The drinking habit was classified as “never”, “medium” (up to maximum 4 drinks in a typical drinking day) and “high” (5 times or more). For smoking, however, the scale used was the following: “never”, “in the past”, “average” (less than 10 cigarettes a day), “high” (at least 10 cigarettes a day).

The research team studied the link between these two habits and the stiffness of the arteries between 17 and 24 years of age. In particular, arterial stiffness was measured with the technique called “carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity”.

In addition, corrections were made (by age, sex, socio-economic status) and some measurements were made at the age of 24. Among the latter, blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, cholesterol.

Beware of this abuse at a young age because it ages the arteries and anticipates cardiovascular disease

Let’s now see what the main results of the research were.

Arterial stiffness increased on average by 10.3% from 17 to 24 years, slightly more for women than for men. Specifically, the researchers found a steady increase in arterial stiffness with increasing average alcohol consumption.

The same has not happened with the increase in the average number of cigarettes smoked. On the other hand, heavy smokers (especially women) showed a loss of elasticity compared to non-smokers. While those who had quit smoking (already at a young age) had recovered the arterial elasticity typical of non-smokers.

The study therefore seems to show that smoking and alcohol excesses at a young age accelerate the premature aging processes of blood vessels.

Two habits, therefore, not without effects on health, especially over the years. In adulthood, in fact, the loss of elasticity of the arteries is associated with greater risks of stroke and heart disease.

Deepening

This healthy 3-minute habit improves blood sugar and blood sugar fluctuations.