7 Bad Health Habits That Affect Your Health

Everyone would like to improve their lives in one way or another. Perhaps you are trying to eat better, get more exercise, and improve your mental health. However, while it is important to focus on the big changes, many small daily habits also affect our health. What are these bad health habits and how do they affect us?

We often think that because some habits are small, they must also be inconsequential. However, left unchecked, these small health habits start to have a more significant impact on our bodies. Yet, any small changes we make can improve our health in the long term. Let’s take a look at a few daily health habits that you can start changing right away.

1: Missing Breakfast

Let’s start with the beginning of the day. While there may be the occasional morning that you are running late and forget to eat breakfast, it’s important that this doesn’t become a regular habit. When you wake up in the morning, up to 80 percent of your energy reserves have been depleted. If you don’t eat breakfast, your body starts to conserve energy, making you feel lethargic and sluggish. Eating in the morning helps to improve your focus and alertness, and helps maintain your blood sugar levels.

2: Taking too Many Medications

Once you have eaten, you will typically take any medications you require for the day. While there may be legitimate reasons you are on medications, you may want to avoid taking too many as much as possible. Using five or more medications simultaneously can be very harmful for older adults. Known as polypharmacy, taking more than five medications can lead to cognitive impairment and an increased risk of negative drug interactions. Speak to your doctor and ask them to review which medications you are currently on are still required.

3: Worrying too Much

You are finally ready and start driving to work, when suddenly your mind is flooded with a thousand negative thoughts. They could range from work-related issues to personal issues and are often accompanied by negative self-talk. This is the worst state to put yourself in so early in the day – or at any time. Worrying negatively affects the body by putting it into fight-or-flight mode. This causes your blood pressure to rise and your heart rate to spike. Additionally, negative self-talk lessens the amount of serotonin that your body produces.

4: Slouching

You have been working for a few hours and you catch a glimpse of your reflection on the window. Is that you or the Hunchback of Notre Dame staring back at you? Constantly slouching while working at your desk can badly affect your body’s health. Bad posture contributes to degenerative neck problems and disc disease. So, next time you catch yourself slouching, make a conscious effort to correct your posture. This will help break the bad health habits for good.

5: Not Breathing Correctly

You may also be so caught up in your work that your breathing becomes shallow without noticing. Taking a moment to be mindful of your breathing can have a positive effect on your body. When you breathe mindfully, your heart rate begins to lower and your body destresses. To instantly calm your body and mind, breathe in through your nose, hold your breath at the top, and then breathe out steadily through your mouth.

6: Not Hydrating Adequately

Another common bad daily habit is inadequate hydration. Dehydration can lead to health issues such as muscle pain, constipation, and headaches. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you are getting your recommended six to eight glasses of liquid throughout the day. This should ideally be water, but can also include tea and juice. If you are adequately hydrated then you feel more energized and your kidneys filter your blood more efficiently.

7: Snacking on Sugary Foods

If you don’t eat properly throughout the day, you are going to find yourself constantly snacking. While there are healthy snack options available, the truth is that the majority of Americans prefer sugary or salty foods. In fact, in the last 30 years, the average quantity of snacks we consume daily has doubled! Additionally, snacks that are high in sugar are associated with an increased risk of developing heart, liver, and kidney diseases. While doctors recommend a maximum of 9 teaspoons of sugar per day, the average American consumes the equivalent of 17 teaspoons daily!

8: Forgetting to Floss Your Teeth

It’s the end of the day, and all you want to do is jump in bed and fall asleep. However, there may be a vital hygiene habit that you are forgetting about – flossing. Not only does poor oral hygiene affect your teeth and gums, but it can affect the rest of your body too. When you floss, it helps to break down bacteria that could otherwise be harmful to your internal organs. Dentists recommend that you floss your teeth at least once a day.

9: Not Getting Enough Sleep

We all enjoy a bit of “me” time after a long day of work, such as scrolling through social media sites or watching a series on Netflix. However, it is important that you set a cut-off time for yourself and head to bed at an adequate hour. Doctors recommend that you get around seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Individuals who get adequate sleep are less likely to suffer from heart disease, depression, and high blood pressure.