Driving with the windows down, forgetting to floss, and over-exercising can have more serious consequences than you may think, and just a few simple changes to your daily routine could potentially save your life. Here are 10 of the most common health mistakes that everyone makes:
Health mistake 1: Driving with the windows down
We feel pretty content cruising up the motorway with the wind blowing through our hair on a warm day, but we never spare a thought for our poor lungs as we breathe in the harmful pollutants emitted by cars. A study from the University of Southern California has found that spending a mere six per cent of our day driving in the car with the windows down exposes us to around 45 per cent of the pollutants that we encounter in 24 hours – that's a lot of pollutants to come into contact with in such a short amount of time. In cities, driving with the windows down poses an even higher threat to your health. Instead of winding the windows down during a traffic-ridden commute, try letting some fresh air in before you start your journey and save having the wind blowing through your hair for your voyage through the countryside.
Health mistake 2: Carrying a heavy handbag
You've packed your makeup, baby wipes, phone, purse and keys. And your camera too (were you planning on taking pictures of anything interesting during your trip to the chemist?) Oh, good to see you brought the old batteries from the remote – never know when you might need them. Those broken headphones could come in handy – thank goodness they found their way in there too. Erm, ladies (and gentleman, if you're quite partial to carrying a 'manbag') do you really need all this stuff? Surely these 'essentials' could be cut down a bit? Lugging a heavy load around can really take its toll on your health by causing back spasms, disc degeneration, neck problems, arthritis, and poor posture. Spring clean your handbags and manbags, and possibly consider trading them in for a smaller version.
Health mistake 3: Spending too long exercising
It's pretty common to think that the more time we spend on the exercise bike, the better. The truth is, too much of a good thing can be counterproductive and that goes for exercise too. Working your body too hard can lead to abnormal hormonal changes (which can trigger weight gain), a weaker immune system, muscle damage, shin splints, and knee, foot, or back problems. Whilst it's important to reap the benefits of exercise for a healthy lifestyle, don't go overboard; expecting abs like Arnold Schwarzenegger on week two of your workout routine isn't going to happen and it isn't going to be healthy.
Health mistake 4: Scrimping on sleep
You've crammed everything you can possibly fit into twenty four hours and more, when suddenly you look at the clock and it's way past the time you hoped to go to bed and closer to the time you need to get up for work. Scientific research has proven that we look less attractive when we've had little sleep, but droopy eyelids and pasty skin are the least of our worries when it comes to our habit of scrimping on sleep. No matter how healthy you are, how much you exercise, or how much you weigh, getting too little shut-eye can seriously affect your health. Scientists studied 5,600 people of a healthy weight and size for three years and found those who skipped sleep quadrupled their risk of stroke and heart disease. Fix a specific time to go to bed and stick to it.
Health mistake 5: Avoiding the scales
In many households across the world, the scales are the one piece of equipment gathering more dust than the treadmill. A common way to gloss over our weight problems is to avoid going on the scales altogether; we go by the mantra “If I don't see that I've gained weight, then I don't have to believe it”. If you feel like you've gained weight, it's best to face the facts to see how much you've gained so you can do something about it before it gets out of hand. Everyone's weight naturally fluctuates so don't panic if you've gained a couple of pounds here and there, but if you gain more than five pounds, you should probably reign in your eating habits. Checking your weight on a regular basis allows you to nip it in the bud if you discover a weight problem – losing the odd few pounds is much easier than trying to shed a stone.
Health mistake 6: Silent worrying
You worry about the meeting at work, you worry about putting the bins out, you worry that you might forget to feed the cat, and it's really getting you down. Whilst stress can be positive in helping to keep you alert and avoid danger, too much of it can be detrimental to your health. Endless worrying eventually leads to distress which causes headaches, high blood pressure, an upset stomach, chest pain, and sleep deprivation. Whilst it's natural to worry when you have a deadline looming, panicking too much about petty things needs to be sorted. When you're worrying, ask yourself a few simple questions and answer them as honestly as you can. Will you still be worrying about this in a couple of week's time? Can this problem be easily resolved? If you can't let it go, tackle the problem head on until it is resolved. If you can learn how to control your worrying, you're well on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Health mistake 7: Stopping medicines suddenly
Most of us are guilty of this one; we're feeling much better and stop taking our medication, but suddenly end up feeling a whole lot worse. How often do you consider the health risks of this? Depending on the medicine you are taking, going 'cold turkey' can cause all sorts of health risks which range from mild, to moderate, or serious. Discontinuing your medicine suddenly can cause mild headaches, rapid return of the illness that you were treating, and seizures, to name only a few. Abruptly stopping certain medications can be life threatening, so keep taking it until your doctor tells you to stop, and when you do get the 'all clear' take medical advice when you're discontinuing them.
Health mistake 8: Forgetting to floss
Flossing is a key component when it comes to oral hygiene, but it's a step that many of us skip because we don't feel much different whether we floss or not. It's worth changing your routine though, because plaque between the teeth can be more serious than you may think. If the bacteria finds its way into the blood stream it can cause chronic inflammation and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and premature birth. The cosmetic implications of not flossing are another obvious concern; unless you would like to lose all your teeth in favour of some rapper-style gold ones, it's recommended that you floss at least once a day to stop your pearly whites from being weakened by plaque and eventually falling out. It looks like we need to start brushing up (get it?) on our dental hygiene routines for the good of our health.
Health mistake 9: Skipping breakfast
Skipping your breakfast and then continuing with your day is like trying to drive your car with a very low tank of fuel – it will feel fine to start with but eventually slow down and cut out. Not only will you feel less active and sluggish, skipping breakfast – whether it is due to lack of time or fear of putting on weight – is linked with a higher risk of diabetes and can lead to obesity as your body stores up more fat to use as fuel throughout the rest of the day. Eat breakfast to feel happier, more functional and, most of all, healthy.
Health mistake 10: Drinking water from the warm tap
“Throw salt over your left shoulder”, “say 'white rabbits' at the start of each month”, “never drink water from the warm tap” – you'd be forgiven for thinking that the latter statement was an old wives' tale like the others, but scientists suggest that drinking water from the warm tap could cause lead poisoning. Lead can enter some water systems – normally homes that were built before 1930 – from corroded plumbing work, but drinking high levels of it can have potential health risks, particularly in children where it can lead to brain damage. Although scientists emphasise that the risks of lead poisoning are small, it's recommended that you use the cold tap for preparing baby formula, drinking, and cooking.
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