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A hospice nurse who says she has witnessed thousands of deaths during her long career has listed three things that people should steer clear of if they want to enjoy a long and fulfilling life . Two of them involve addictive, but perfectly legal, habits that can be hard to drop but the third is easier to quit. Julie McFadden has amassed more than 600,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel Hospice Nurse Julie , where she offers eye-opening glimpses into her profession. She previously described how end-of-life patients frequently claim to witness the same "beautiful" phenomenon before they pass away. Julie also disclosed that her patients routinely express the same regrets about their lives while on their deathbed. Now, in a fresh video, she outlined the three bad habits people indulge in that can lead to ill health and a premature death. The first thing to steer clear of, she says, is alcohol: "It has been clinically proven that it is not good for your health to drink daily," Julie says. The liver is a crucially important organ—besides filtering and detoxifying blood, it carries out numerous vital digestive functions. In the video, she goes on: "Our liver is a beautiful organ that does a lot of stuff for us, and when it's not working, it's bad. I've seen enough people die alcoholic deaths, meaning from liver cirrhosis because of drinking, to know that it is not good. And it is preventable." Julie describes that while daily consumption of even modest quantities of alcohol can inflict serious damage to your liver, it is a robust organ that can recover from major harm given the opportunity. "You can quit, and your liver will regenerate," she says. "Your liver will improve. As long as it's not too far gone, your liver will get better. So, the first thing I would not do is drink a lot for an extended period. You will have liver damage, and liver damage is not good because we need our liver for so many things to help us basically function normally. We need our liver." Julie then urges people to abandon another harmful habit. "I would not smoke or vape," she says. "I know everyone hears this. Everyone says this. Not many people smoke anymore, but a lot of people vape. And vaping is just as bad… it affects more than just the lungs. It affects your whole cardiovascular system." Consequently, even if you avoid emphysema, COPD, lung cancer, or other respiratory disorders, you'll develop heart problems. You'll experience narrowing of your artery and vein walls alongside poor circulation. Julie reveals that witnessing people succumb to these devastating smoking-related illnesses "isn't pretty." She confesses that although she quit around a decade ago, she was once a smoker herself, adding: "So I could have damage done already." Finally, Julie mentions there's a third activity that everyone could eliminate quite simply. She explains: "I would not ride a [quadbike] or a motorcycle. Helmet or no helmet. No bueno. This is because I was a trauma ICU nurse. You'd be surprised—vehicles. They just are not safe." Julie has witnessed "so many deaths" resulting from motorbike crashes, she reveals. "It's just not worth it. Even riding a bicycle," she says, "isn't worth the risk. I would go on a bike, but I'd always wear a helmet," she explained, noting that cycling on roads can be extremely hazardous. She acknowledges that she may appear to be a spoilsport, but she still manages to enjoy herself without alcohol, cigarettes, or bike rides. "I still have a lot of fun," she remarks. "People think you have to drink to have fun. And I used to be one of those people. I now know that is not true. Being present in the moment is the most fun you can ever have."
