BRITS have revealed the health ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ 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 – according to new research.
This comes as over three quarters of Londoners (76%) admit they ignored a potential health condition before the age of 30, which later flared up, with just over half (57%) skipping regular health check-ups when they were younger.
The poll of over 2,000 UK adults over 40 also revealed they wished they had prioritised regular exercise. With over half of Londoners (55%) not even going for a walk to top up their Vitamin D levels. Others would recommend not ignoring their mental health (31%), starting a skincare regime earlier in life (31%) and taking better care of their hearing (22%). In fact, 14% would advise younger generations to always pack hearing protection when heading to a gig.
The research, commissioned by Specsavers to mark Tinnitus Awareness Week (3rd -9th February 2025), highlights the importance of regular health checks to improve our health and wellbeing later in life.
Over three quarters (80%) of Londoners over 40 admit they rarely or never took steps to protect their hearing when exposed to loud environments in their youth. However, they are now feeling the consequences with (31%) of Londoners rating their hearing as average or poor with 64% reporting they experience occasional tinnitus, a condition in which you hear ringing in your ear.
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.”
Over a third blamed their past health naivety on a lack of awareness of long-term consequences, while 35% admitted they didn’t have enough knowledge about preventative care.
Specsavers chief audiologist, Gordon Harrison, said: “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.”
The findings show that there is a lack of awareness of long-term consequences with over half (63%) not fully understanding the impact of poor health habits until later in life. By highlighting these findings, Specsavers hopes more people will take preventative health more seriously to help prevent long-term implications.
If you have any concerns about your hearing or want to find out more information visit specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-test
