We all take steps each and every day to make ourselves the healthiest we can be. Whether that be hitting the CrossFit gym, eating less red meat, going to bed a little earlier, or scheduling regular checkups with our doctors.
However, at the same time, there are also ways we endanger our health every day, whether we know it or not.
Knowing is half the battle. Once we know ways we put our health in danger, we can take the steps to lessen the chances of getting injured or sick.
Here are five surprising ways you endanger your health every day.
Getting Behind the Wheel of a Car
Without a doubt, one of the most dangerous things many of us do every day is get into a moving vehicle. For most of us, that means getting behind the wheel of a car.
Drunk driving is especially dangerous. Not only can you be taken to jail with high blood alcohol content, even just having one drink can impair you on the road. It’s really better not to drink and drive at all if you want to maintain your health and safety.
But it’s not just drunk driving that’s dangerous. Distracted driving can be just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than driving under the influence. Even if you aren’t drunk or distracted, you’re still at the mercy of other drivers who may not be taking their job behind the wheel seriously.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever get into a moving vehicle ever again! But it does mean you should be mindful every second you’re on the road.
Spend All Day Sitting at Your Desk
It seems the jobs of the future all involve a desk and a computer. Many of these jobs are high paying, which is good. Unfortunately, they also include long hours sitting in a chair.
Although sitting can be comfortable, that doesn’t mean it’s good for your health. Many studies, and authors like Dr. Kelly Starrett, argue that excessive sitting is actually very bad for your health.
Sitting comes with a whole host of problems. It can increase your chances of getting heart disease, not to mention back pain. The bad news is, regularly hitting the gym won’t fix it!
Instead, spend time standing for at least a portion of the day. You’ll burn more calories and safeguard your health.
Touch Your Face
How many times a day do you think you touch your face? Most people don’t think they touch their face very much, but the truth is, most of us touch our faces dozens of times each day.
Whether you’re scratching your eye or biting your nails, the trouble with touching your face is that you’re transferring germs from your hands, which touch things like sweaty barbells and dirty keyboards, to your face, increasing your chances of getting sick.
Try to avoid touching your face whenever possible. Wash your hands frequently so that when you do touch your face, you aren’t transferring a bunch of germs straight into your body.
Drink Diet Soda
Think you’re making a good choice for your health by switching to diet soda? Think again! It turns out, it can be just as bad for your health as other sugary drinks.
A few surprising facts about diet soda include:
- Middle aged adults who consume diet soda every day are more likely to develop dementia
- People who drink diet soda every day have smaller brain volumes than those who don’t
- Artificial sweeteners can increase your chances of getting headaches
- You’re more likely to experience breakouts when you drink diet soda
That only scratches the surface. Do your health a favor and give up the sugary drinks for good.
Take a Shower
Most people take daily showers because they think it’s good for their health and hygiene. It turns out, excessive showering can be harmful.
Most of us don’t need to bathe every day. It strips your body of its protective layer, which leaves you more susceptible to illness. Studies have shown that even antibacterial soap only moves bacteria around—it doesn’t actually get rid of it. Not to mention, bathing all the time can make your skin dry.
Instead, take a shower only when you get dirty, or once every couple of days, whichever comes first.
Every little thing you do for your health helps! Hopefully, this list uncovered a few things you’ve been doing to endanger your health every day, as well as steps you can take to make sure they no longer put you at risk.
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