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How Your Bad Habits Affect Your Health
1/15
‘Crack’ Your Knuckles
It doesn’t just annoy
your friends and co-workers -- it may not be very good for you, either. A
substance called synovial fluid keeps your joints moving easily. The sound
your knuckles make when they “crack” comes when you pop tiny bubbles in that
fluid. If you do it all the time, you’re more likely to have swollen hands and
a weaker grip over time. It doesn’t seem to raise your chances of arthritis,
though.
1/15
Bite Your Nails
This can damage your
teeth as well as the skin around your nail bed, which can lead to infection.
You also may get more colds and other illnesses when you put your fingers,
which often carry germs, into your mouth. It can help to keep your nails neatly
trimmed or manicured. If stress could be the reason for your habit, you
might try things like exercise to manage it. Talk to your doctor if you
want help stopping.
1/15
Cheat Yourself on Sleep
If you don’t get enough
sleep, you’re not just turning yourself into a daytime zombie -- you also could
be more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and
depression. And it might be harder for you to learn and remember things. Set a regular
sleep routine and stick with it. And do your best to get 7-8 hours a night.
1/15
Blast Your Headphones
Sound is measured in
decibels -- normal conversation is about 60 decibels. It's best to keep the
volume in your headphones below 75 (about as loud as a vacuum cleaner) to be
safe. And don't listen for more than a couple of hours at a time. You're more
likely to lose hearing as you age if you're around loud noise a lot.
That happens with more than half of us by age 75. Hearing loss in older
adults is linked to thinking problems and even brain tissue loss.
1/15
Surf Before Bed
Not waves -- the
Internet. The “blue light” given off by electronic gadgets like phones,
computers, and TVs can mess up your sleep. And some studies show that too much
of any kind of nighttime light might be linked to cancer (especially breast and
prostate), diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Calm yourself before bed. If
you want to read something, open up a book. Keep your bedroom dark and quiet
for better sleep.
1/15
Sit for Long Periods
Most Americans spend too
much time in chairs. Part of the problem is the modern workplace, where you may
hunker over your computer for hours on end. This slows down your metabolism,
which means you could gain weight. It’s also linked to other health problems,
including heart disease. There’s an easy fix, though: Just get up now and then
and move around. Even a 10-minute walk each day can help.
1/15
Drink Too Much
Men who have more than
14 alcoholic beverages a week -- and women who have more than seven -- are more
likely to have kidney disease, liver disease, digestive issues, heart problems,
bone damage, and even some cancers. Studies have shown that moderate drinking
-- up to a drink a day for women and two a day for men -- could possibly lower
your chances of certain heart conditions. But if you don’t drink alcohol,
that’s not a reason to start.
1/15
Eat Too Much
If you make a habit of
it -- even if it’s healthy food -- you’re likely to gain weight. That can lead
to heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and it can raise your
chances of certain kinds of cancer. Check portion sizes before meals and measure
out snacks you have in front of the TV, so you know exactly how much you’re
eating.
1/15
Eat Too Quickly
It can leave you less
satisfied -- and make you more likely to overeat over the course of the day. If
you slow down, you could feel fuller with less, because your body has a chance
to realize you’ve eaten enough. It can help to focus when you eat: Take small
bites, and chew them well.
1/15
Skip Flossing
You did a full
brush, isn’t that enough? Nope, you need to clean between your teeth, too,
if you want to do all you can to get rid of plaque, the sticky bacteria-filled
film that causes cavities. Too much plaque also can lead to gum disease, a
serious condition that’s linked to other health issues like stroke, heart
disease, and diabetes.
1/15
Eat Junk Food
Soda, candy, and
pastries have lots of calories and little nutrition, and all that sugar
gets into your blood too quickly. Those kinds of things are linked to serious
health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. “Complex carbs” with
more fiber and nutrition -- whole grains, fruits, and vegetables -- take longer
to digest, satisfy your hunger, and give you steady energy. “Good” fats like
nuts and seeds also can be part of a healthy diet.
1/15
Spend Too Much Time Alone
It’s not how many people
you know or how often you see them -- what matters is that you feel connected
to others. If you don’t, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure,
depression, brain issues (like Alzheimer’s), and inflammation. If you feel alone,
join a social club, reconnect with family or friends, or start something new
that involves other people -- join a book club or learn to play tennis or
bridge, for example.
1/15
Smoke Cigarettes
This bad habit affects
nearly every organ in your body. It can lead to heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, stroke, bronchitis, emphysema, and other health problems. It also
raises your risk of tuberculosis, eye problems, and immune disorders like
rheumatoid arthritis. And if you spend a lot of time around someone who smokes,
you’re more likely to have asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, or a stroke.
Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking.
1/15
Go to a Tanning Bed
It’s just not a good
idea. Women with lighter hair and skin -- who get skin cancer more often -- are
also more likely than others to use tanning beds, which can make the chances of
it even higher. And the younger you are when you start, the more likely you are
to get it. Topical sunless tanning products are generally considered a safer
alternative to sunbathing as long as they're used as directed. Make sure not to
inhale or apply to areas like the lips, nose, or mouth.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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