Smoking, eating high cholesterol makes men die 10 years early

Middle-aged men who smoke, have high blood pressure and eat lots of cholesterol-containing foods will die about 10 years earlier than their peers with healthy lifestyles , British-scale research has revealed.

Smoking and a diet high in cholesterol can lead to narrowing of the arteries, just like in a damaged heart x-ray.(Photo: BBC)

The work explored more than 19,000 state employees aged 40 to 69 and watched what happened to them in the next 38 years.

The BBC said participants were monitored for height, weight, blood pressure, lung function, blood sugar content and blood cholesterol, and answered a questionnaire about previous health history, smoking habits. drugs, job qualifications and marital status.

The investigation ended in 2005, with 13,501 people dead.

The Oxford University team focused on investigating three factors: smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol, because they are the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The combined results show that men who maintain lifestyle with these three risk factors often die 10 years earlier than the average age, starting at age 50 onwards.

The British Heart Foundation said it was an important reminder to anyone over 40 that he should go for cardiovascular screening, and limit the factors that could kill him.