309. Being unhappy could age you faster than smoking
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Being unhappy could age you faster than smoking. In a new study published in the journal Aging, researchers looked at the impact of mental health on our biological clocks. They found that psychological factors, such as feeling unhappy or lonely, added over 1.5 years to a person’s biological age. This aging effect of being unhappy or lonely exceeded that of gender, relationship status or even smoking. Maintaining optimal mental health might be just as important as ideal physical health when it comes to longevity.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
