Many people put too much pressure on doing things that make them healthy, such as getting into an exercise routine and getting sufficient sleep. Also, they avoid other things, which could compromise their immunity, for instance, smoking and consuming excessive alcohol. But, what about the little-known habits that hurt your health?
It is vital to understand that your daily behavior may be holding you back without your realization. The following are some of the habits that can adversely affect your health without your knowledge:
Not getting enough sleep
Inadequate sleep has been linked with illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, depression, tissue-damaging soreness, obesity, and heart disease. Besides, thrifting on sleep can lessen your brain’s ability to function correctly, resulting in decreased productivity and impaired reaction when driving.
It’s recommended that you practice good sleep hygiene like having a bedtime ritual that will help you relax, lessen caffeine consumption before bedtime and invest in a good quality mattress. Also, if you have insomnia or think that you have sleep apnea, get the help of a doctor and learn about ways of treating sleep apnea.
Consuming too much added sugar
Eating a lot of added sugar increases the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Besides, too much sugar causes inflammation through the body, which later compromises the immune system by weakening the white blood cells that help the body combat infection.
In addition to that, sugar hinders your body’s capacity to rebuild and produce collagen and elastin, which are the main elements involved in keeping your skin looking youthful and glowing.
Too much exercise
Are you a fitness enthusiast that strives to eat and get enough exercise? Well done! You must be applauded for your efforts to promote good health, as long as you remember that your body needs to rest too.
Exercising is not bad, but everything can go sour when you start getting obsessed with them to the point that your fitness goals become damaging to your general health. You might have begun fitness as a gym fanatic, but things can go real quick and wrong; you might become orthorexia, anorexic athlete or even be obsessive in exercising. Too much exercise has adverse effects on your body depending on your age. For instance, it can lead to:
- Anxiety and depression
- High levels of cortisol
- Increased risks of heart diseases
- Extreme fatigue
- Ligament and tendon strains
- Chronic dehydration
- Poor sleep
- Irritable mood
Sitting for too long
According to a study by the Annals of Internal Medicine, a prolonged period of dormancy has been linked to an increased mortality rate; in simple words, sitting for too long can negatively affect your health. When sitting for too long in your office chair, it can be very easy to stroll around the office and stretch your legs. But what if you are sitting on a plane? You can also sneak some form of exercise; for instance, you can roll your shoulders round, open and close your toes or even tighten up your glute muscles.
Your body needs stretching and moving, so coming up with ways to be active might go a long way in making your flight experience pleasant.
Conclusion
There are many ways to live more healthily; however, that doesn’t mean that you cannot negatively impact your immune system. Ensure that you visit your doctor every six months for a checkup to ensure that nothing is compromising your health.
