A well-known heart surgeon on social media has shared guidance for people over 40, outlining four things to avoid if you want to maintain long-term health and longevity.

No one can make perfect choices every day. Daily life is full of habits and exposures that can negatively affect your health, and avoiding all of them is unrealistic.

That said, it would be a mistake to ignore the fact that some behaviors are especially harmful. As we age, their impact on the body becomes more severe and accumulates more quickly.

Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiothoracic surgeon widely followed on TikTok and YouTube, has highlighted four key habits that should be eliminated after turning 40—especially for those who want to live longer and healthier lives.

According to him, the first two habits should ideally be controlled well before age 40, but they become significantly more dangerous and critical to address once you pass that milestone.

It shouldn’t surprise you that alcohol is on this list, as Dr London asserts that “if you really want to set the stage for yourself long term, limit or remove alcohol [as] it’s toxic to every cell in the body.”

This is similar to advice urging people to cut out beers in the twilight years of their life, as it’s actively harmful to your cells, most notably the neurons in your brain that keep you in tip top shape.

In addition, smoking – both traditional cigarettes and cannabis – is another major red flag for Dr London, which comes after a new gruesome side effect was classified for the latter by the World Health Organization.

“It increases your risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, and stroke,” asserts the heart surgeon, as he urges people to not vape and smoke for their health’s sake, and another TikToker can certainly attest to that as his symptoms were completely eliminated after quitting e-cigarettes.

Here’s a smooth paraphrase that keeps the original meaning and flow:

The third habit to eliminate is one many people underestimate: sacrificing sleep for other activities. The idea that adults need around eight hours of sleep each night isn’t a myth—this rest period is vital for recovery, overall health, and long-term well-being.

People often stay up late to work longer hours or indulge in late-night gaming, but doing so comes at the expense of their health. Consistently giving up sleep can be extremely harmful and carries serious risks over time.

Lastly, Dr. London recommends steering clear of toxic individuals. Instead, he encourages people to invest their energy in nurturing relationships with those they genuinely care about and love, emphasizing that these connections are what truly matter in the long run.