A heart surgeon has revealed the number one thing people should stop doing after the age of 40 if they want the chance at living a long life.
Longevity is something most people aim for, making changes to ensure they remain healthy for as long as possible.
While there's no foolproof way to make sure you live to a ripe old age with all of your faculties intact, there are many things people can do to give themselves the best chance at aging well.
Dr Jeremy London, a heart surgeon from Georgia with over 25 years of experience, has shared his tips - including what you need to ditch by the time you turn 40.
The main thing you need to get rid of? Alcohol.
In a clip shared to TikTok, one of Dr London's sons enters his office and asks: "Dad, what things would you avoid after the age of 40?"
He explained: "The top two on the list go for any age... the first one would be alcohol.
"If you really want to set the stage for yourself long term, limit or remove alcohol, it's toxic to every cell in the body.
"I realise this can be hard because alcohol is everywhere. It is a personal choice but just be thoughtful."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are many harmful effects of alcohol, including weight gain from the empty calories, as well as the potential to lead to serious health consequences such as brain damage, heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver and even certain kinds of cancer.
While drinking in moderation likely won't have too many catastrophic results, avoiding all alcohol or cutting down as much as possible in middle age is far safer.
Dr. London also advises against smoking or vaping, which can be seriously harmful to the health.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), around eight million people die prematurely each year as a result of smoking.
Dr. London agrees, adding: "Next is smoking and vaping. I don't think anyone would disagree that it's bad for you. It increases your risk of lung cancer, heart attack and stroke - don't vape, don't smoke."
Another major factor that can impact longevity is not getting enough sleep - whether that be from being unable to switch off due to stress or just doomscrolling way past your bedtime.
Sleep is enormously important to allow the body and mind to rest and recover and good sleep is essential for remaining healthy.
And in our busy modern lives, it can often be the thing we sacrifice in order to squeeze in other activities or just get some alone time when there never feels like there are enough hours in the day.
Dr. London explained: "Don't trade sleep for other activities. This is something that I personally struggle with.
"Recovery is so important throughout our lives but it's really important as we get older."
The doctor also suggested being more selective with the people you choose to surround yourself with, as toxicity can also have a negative effect on your overall wellbeing.
He added: "Finally, avoid toxic people, focus and nurture on your relationships with the people that you care about and love because in the end that's what truly matters."