5 Habits That Negatively Affect Your Health

Everyone has bad habits, and it is likely that when you think about it, you will immediately be able to name yours, and know instinctively that you shouldn’t be doing them. However, the very nature of a habit means that you might not even realize that you are carrying out the act, or if you do know, you might find it hard (almost impossible!) to stop. Stopping, or at least reducing the number of times we carry out that habit, is hugely important for your overall health, and this is why you need to try as hard as possible to quit.

Too Much TV

TV is a wonderful thing; it’s a fantastic way to relax and unwind at the end of a hard day. However, watching too much TV can be a problem and one that results in physical issues such as strokes, heart attacks, and obesity. When you sit in one place for an extended period of time, the levels of your blood sugar and the fats within your body go up, and this is bad for your health. Even if you also regularly exercise, sitting still for too long can undo all that hard work.

If you do sit still for a long time, whether it’s watching TV or perhaps just sitting at your desk at work, then make sure you get up and move around every hour. You only need to move about for five to ten minutes, and this is enough to improve your circulation. If you can do something more active than just walking around during that time, perhaps jogging up and down stairs, or even going outside for a run, for example, then that is even better.

Not Asking For Help

Not asking for help can become a habit just like many other things. You may constantly tell yourself that you’re fine, even if you feel unwell or depressed. Trying to convince yourself that all is well is not a good idea if it isn’t the truth, because you will simply mask the issue and it will never get solved; in fact, over time it will just get worse. It can be difficult for some people to admit that their mental health is a problem, but simply by speaking out you have started the process of healing.

If you don’t think that your friends, family, or colleagues would understand, then speak to a professional such as a doctor or a therapist. They will know what to do to help you, and you will find that this habit of not speaking out will soon disappear; you’ll feel so much better if you can talk things through.

Snoring

Although snoring isn’t exactly a habit, it is something that we do without knowing that it is happening, and it can also affect our health. Snoring can sometimes be a symptom of other health issues, including obstructive sleep apnea (this is when your breathing is interrupted and actually stops when you are asleep). Something like this will negatively affect your sleeping patterns at the very least, making you tired and less productive. Lack of sleep can also lead to bigger problems including type II diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

If someone tells you that you snore, or perhaps you wake yourself up due to your own snoring, then it is a good idea to see a doctor. It might be nothing, but it could be a symptom of something more serious, so getting checked out is the best thing you can do.

Stress

Stress can become a kind of habit, and it can have seriously negative effects on your overall health, both physically and mentally. When you are stressed, your body is flooded with cortisol, the stress hormone. It is a useful hormone, despite its negative name, because it makes you more alert, and in many cases, will give you a burst of productivity too. However, when the levels of cortisol don’t drop down again, it means you are chronically stressed, and this is when the hormone becomes a problem. It can mean that you are more at risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart problems, and more.

Therefore, de-stressing as much as possible and lowering the cortisol levels in your body will help you greatly. To do this, you need to know what it is that is causing you stress. It might be a financial issue, in which case a solution could be installment loans for bad credit so that you can consolidate your existing debt and make repayments manageable. It could be work, in which case speaking to your manager might help you. Many things can cause stress, and identifying them is important when you want to solve the issues.

Ways to de-stress include meditating, taking a long, hot bath, going for a walk, trying breathing exercises, and getting enough sleep. If none of these things (or others) work for you, then you will need to make an appointment with your doctor for additional help. There is no shame in doing this, and it can change your life for the better.

Too Much Alcohol

Although there are many different studies being carried out on the effects of alcohol on the mind and body, the consensus is that too much alcohol on a regular basis is bad for us, and a habit that we need to get out of if it is something that we have an issue with. Too much alcohol has been linked to a number of dangerous diseases and conditions such as high blood pressure, liver failure, heart failure, and excess blood fats. Alcohol also contains a high number of calories, so weight gain is another side effect of drinking too much. Although for those who have a serious problem with drinking, they may find that they don’t eat at all, and therefore it is weight loss that is the problem.

Alcohol also inhibits our ability to think clearly or function properly, and this can be a big problem in our daily lives, especially if we need to drive or operate machinery, or if there are children to care for.

It can be difficult to simply stop drinking, or even to cut down for some people, and if this is the case, then rehab might be a good option. This will help to break the habit and put you on the road to recovery.