Seven Surprising Ways You Could Be Compromising Your Health Without Knowing It

There are a lot of ways you can compromise your health. Some of these ways are obvious. For example, you already know that drug addictions and excessive drinking can have an adverse effect on your health. Driving recklessly can increase your chances of getting into an accident, and you probably already know you should be visiting the doctor regularly, especially as you get older.

However, there are a lot of ways you could be compromising your health, and you may not even know it. Here are just a few that are relatively easy to fix once you realize just how important they are.

Taking Medication

Most of us take medication fairly regularly. Some of us take prescription medications while others may reach for the bottle of Tylenol when a headache strikes.

Medication can increase our health, but it can also make it worse. That’s especially the case if you are taking a dangerous medication.

For example, thousands of men and women who suffer from severe bladder pain may take the medication Elmiron. Unfortunately, Elmiron has the potential to create vision impairment because its ingredients are toxic to the retina. It hasn’t been recalled by the FDA, which means some patients are still taking this medication, to the detriment of their eyesight.

You should always pay close attention to the medications you’re taking, and you should always look for ways to discontinue use of medications that aren’t serving you.

Not Eating Enough

Many men and women are worried about their weight. That’s because being overweight and being obese can sometimes be correlated with certain health issues. This leads many people to diet, which means consuming fewer calories than is recommended for their age and gender.

This can be just as dangerous as being overweight. Restricting calories comes with multiple risks that include:

• A loss of muscle mass
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic fatigue
• Reduced fertility
• Weakened bones
• Lower immunity

It’s important to remember that correlation doesn’t prove causation, which means being overweight doesn’t automatically make you unhealthy. Not to mention, if you have to restrict calories in order to lose weight, you will undoubtedly gain it back when you resume a normal diet. Unless there is a direct and obvious connection between your weight and a specific health condition, you would probably be better off skipping the calorie restrictive diet.

Exercising Too Much

You know exercise is important to your health, but did you know there comes a point where it can actually be bad for your health?

Over-exercising can be just as dangerous as not exercising at all. Running provides a good example. Light and moderate runners have a lower risk of death than people who didn’t exercise at all. However, people who ran at a faster pace more than three times during the week had a similar risk of dying as the people who didn’t run at all.

Too much exercise can make you more vulnerable to infection and it can make you more vulnerable to viruses. It’s much better to exercise moderately and take plenty of time to rest than it is to over exert yourself.

Sitting Too Much

You may have heard that sitting too much can be bad for your health, but what exactly does it mean to sit too much?

Unfortunately, if you work at a desk, you’re probably sitting too much. Those who sit for eight hours or more each day have worse health outcomes than those who sit less.

Just because you’re stuck at a desk during the day doesn’t mean you’re doomed! Only those who sit without any physical exercise have the poorest health outcomes.

You can combat many of the effects of sitting too much by taking a break and moving around every 30 minutes. Make it a point to stand every time you talk on the phone and do stretches while you watch TV in the evening.

Not Washing Your Hands the Right Way

Washing your hands is important, but many of us don’t wash our hands enough. That’s especially the case in a world where we’re dealing with COVID-19.

You should always wash your hands after you go to the bathroom, but it’s a good idea to wash your hands after you sneeze, blow your nose, and prepare food.

You also have to make sure you wash your hands the right way. Wash between your fingers, under your fingernails, and the backs of your hands. Scrub for at least 20 seconds to kill the most germs.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

Losing sleep doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. If you have a rough night every once in a while, it’s nothing to panic about, but more prolonged sleep loss can have a profound effect on your health.

Not getting enough sleep can make you more susceptible to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.

Your sleep needs change throughout your life, so make sure you pay attention to your body and talk to your doctor about how much sleep you need. Then, take the steps to make sure you get enough shuteye most nights of the week.

Loneliness

Loneliness is a growing problem in today’s society. On the surface, it seems like nothing more than an inconvenience, but it’s much more than that.

Those who experience loneliness have a higher risk of premature death, are more likely to develop dementia in old age and are more likely to experience heart disease or a stroke.

Do your physical and mental health a favor by finding ways to get involved in your community and reach out to family and friends, even if it takes you outside your comfort zone.

We all want to maintain our health for as long as possible. Unfortunately, some of us sabotage our health without knowing it! By doing simple things like sitting a little less and washing your hands a little more, you can boost your immune system and live a longer, healthier life.