Health tips Brits would tell their younger selves – from drinking more water every day to wearing sunglasses in winter

BRITS have revealed the health tips they would tell their younger selves, including to avoid listening to music at full blast, always wear sunglasses – even in winter – and to get enough sleep.

A poll, of 2,000 over 40s, found they would also prioritise regular exercise, even if it’s just walking (58 per cent), and ensuring they get enough vitamin D (34 per cent).

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Always wearing sunglasses, even in winter, was among the health tips[/caption]

Others would recommend not ignoring their mental health (31 per cent) and starting a skincare regime earlier in life (27 per cent).

One in five (19 per cent) wished they had taken better care of their hearing, with 12 per cent advising younger generations to always pack earplugs when heading to a gig.

The research, which was commissioned by Specsavers to mark as part of Tinnitus Awareness Week, found 65 per cent admitted to ignoring a potential health condition before the age of 30, which later flared up.

And in addition, 61 per cent skipping regular health check-ups in their younger years.

Four in 10 blamed their past health naivety on a lack of awareness of long-term consequences, while 32 per cent admitted they didn’t have enough knowledge about preventative care.

For instance, 73 per cent rarely or never took measures to protect their hearing when exposed to loud environments in their youth.

DJ Woody Cook, who lives with tinnitus, said: “Without a doubt, my tinnitus is from listening to loud music.

“As a DJ, my hearing is crucial. I wish I’d known earlier about the risks and protected my hearing better.

“But it’s not too late, and with the right hearing protection I’m able to stop my tinnitus from getting any worse.”

Now, 42 per cent of over-40s say their hearing is either average or poor, with 63 per cent occasionally experiencing tinnitus.

Although, 61 per cent didn’t fully understand the impact of poor health habits until later in life, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Eating a balanced diet (35 per cent), getting regular exercise (34 per cent), and limiting alcohol consumption (32 per cent) were the toughest healthy habits to maintain.

Specsavers chief audiologist, Gordon Harrison, added: “When you’re young, prioritising your health can take a backseat to work and socialising.

“But many adults now wish they had been more proactive – whether in staying active, getting enough sleep, having regular eye tests or protecting their hearing.

“Tinnitus is a growing issue, with huge numbers of adults experiencing the condition.

“While it is not known exactly what causes tinnitus, exposure to loud noise can trigger the condition and that’s why protecting your hearing is so important.”