Some of the things you do or dont do every day might be sabotaging your efforts to be healthier. Like it or not, these habits are bad for you mentally, physically and emotionally. While there are many habits that you could be aware of their harmfulness, there are many that you don’t even know are bad but are evil for our bodies. Here are five unhealthy habits you should quit to stay healthier. Not drinking enough water Hydration is very important to the human body as it plays a big role in preventing different complications and to replace water that the body has released through sweat and urine (water balance). Eric Matsiko, a nutritionist says advises taking two liters per day to avoid complications like dehydration and heat stroke among others. Not drinking enough water to replenish fluids lost through sweating can cause heat stroke. Lacking enough water and not eating well, he says, can also lead to headaches and fatigue, which is why it is advisable to drink enough water before you rest. Skipping breakfast “Skipping breakfast results into headache and migraines because the body’s metabolism is low. Your body becomes weak because it has not been fueled so it switches some functions off to concentrate the energy left to other essential organs,” Matsiko says. He further explains that not taking breakfast after the stomach has been empty the whole night leads to low sugar levels that highly affects how the brain functions. According to a study in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, not drinking enough water can raise risk of stroke and prolong recovery time. Holding your pee If you are constantly ignoring the urge to pee, you may develop a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), according to Healthline. This infection affects the kidneys, bladder and urethra, which also causes other different complications like pelvic pain, increased urge to urinate and fever among others. If you are not able to urinate, the urine backs up and causes swelling of the kidneys and often infection. It can damage the kidneys and the infection can spread to the bloodstream. Holding it in for too long can overstretch the bladder and lead to lack of coordination between the bladder muscle and the urethra. Covering your head while sleeping/ loud music/ too much TV Sleeping totally covered up in bed can pose some major health problems. The blanket restricts airflow and eventually you might lack oxygen and risk suffocating particularly if you have some underlying conditions like asthma, sleep apnea and cardiac disease. Better Health Facts points out that a new blanket should never be used to cover your head as it may have microorganisms, which can easily enter your body through nose, ears or mouth. Inhaling dust through a blanket on regular basis can damage your lungs gradually. Nail biting Repeated nail biting is often a subconscious response to stress, giving the brain something material to focus on. Biting your nails risks causing inflammation and infection to your nail bed. General dentistry study found that nail biters might be at high risk for bruxism- clenching of the jaw that can cause facial pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity and tooth. “Over time, bacteria can build up in the skin around the nail causing redness, irritation and swelling,” says Jasmine Obioha, a dermatologist at Cedars- Sinai.
