Top-8 Bad Habits That Can Shorten Your Life

We all want to live longer. But most of Nigerians don't know about the obvious ways that affect their vitality.

So here is a list of the bad habits that shorten your life:

1. Wrong diet
There have been a lot of studies related to diet and longevity. And most of the experts agree that a diet with low sugar and carbohydrates is the best.

2. Never check your cholesterol
A high level of cholesterol increases your risk of stroke and heart disease. You should have your cholesterol level checked from time to time. That would help you to undergo some lifestyle changes if needed.

3. Mix alcohol and drugs
Even drinking wine after dinner and then taking some prescribed medicine can be lethal. Try to avoid such combinations.

4. Don't ever check for diabetes
If diabetes is not treated properly it leads to blindness, amputations and clogged arteries that can cause heart attacks and strokes. You should include a simple blood test for diabetes in your annual plans.

5. Don't notice your extra weight
As we age, our metabolism slows down and we burn fewer calories. If we don't alter our eating and exercise patterns, weight gain is inevitable. Obesity leads to high blood pressure and heart disease.

6. Ignore everything you know about heart attacks
Men and women have different symptoms of heart attacks. While women often report a feeling of indigestion and extreme fatigue, men mentioned they had a squeezing pain in the center of the chest. Such pain could spread to the jaw, neck or shoulder. If you are a diabetic, the pain can often be displaced to other areas like the lower back.

7. Don't sleep a lot
When you don't sleep enough your reflexes become lower and you pay less attention to everything that happens. The risk is double if you are a driver.

8. No exercising
To stay healthy you should exercise a minimum of twice a week. Additionally, exercising is good for our memory. Even walking can increase the size of your hippocampus, the part of the brain that's key to memory.

The average life expectancy in Nigeria, which was put at 54 years according to health data used in 2011 WHO updates, the World Bank and the United Nations for population, is the 17th lowest in the world. Top-3 diseases that kill Nigerians: influenza, HIV/AIDS and a stroke.