7 Things you don't know you're doing that can ruin your health

“Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.”

Looking after one’s health is of prime importance. But sadly, most of us get busy in our personal and professional lives and tend to ignore our health.



Remember that health is a relationship between you and your body, and whatever you do in your daily routine has an impact –positive or negative – on your health.

Here are the 10 things that you don’t know you’re doing to ruin your health.

1. Not Enjoying Enough Sleep

If your busy schedule is affecting how much sleep you get each night, take steps to change your schedule so that you can enjoy the much-needed sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should sleep at least 7 to 8 hours every night. Children and teenagers need more sleep, ranging from 9 to 11 hours.

2. Surviving on Fast Food

If you do not have time to cook, running out for fast food seems the best solution.

But fast food contributes little or no nutrient value to your diet. Instead, these foods are packed with excess calories, fat, sugar and salt content, which are not good for your health.

This type of unhealthy eating contributes to several health problems. Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, high cholesterol, dementia and many types of cancer are closely related to an unhealthy diet.

3. Quenching Your Thirst with Sodas instead of Water

Many of us often reach out for a can of soda instead of plain water to quench our thirst without realizing how harmful it is.

The sugary soda drinks increase your risk of excess weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Diet sodas, too, are not as healthy as they are promoted to be. Instead of controlling weight gain, they stimulate your appetite and sugar cravings.

Some sodas even contain caffeine which contributes to dehydration. So, quenching your thirst with such drinks is not a good idea.

4. Ignoring Nature’s Call

When you are engrossed in work, doing something very important, driving or traveling, you may tend to delay the call of nature.

But if you ignore the urge to use the restroom, you are putting a strain on your bladder and kidneys. Retaining urine for long periods of time and on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones and incontinence.

When urine remains in the bladder for a long time, it causes the bacteria in the urine to multiply, which can lead to urinary tract infections or kidney infections.

5. Sitting for Prolonged Hours

Regardless of whether you are sitting in front of your computer or television screen, prolonged sitting is not good for your health.

Sitting for long periods of time without taking any breaks can lead to a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels).

6. Negative Thinking and Stress

Negative thinking and stress can have a negative impact on your physical as well as psychological health. In fact, negative emotions have been found to give rise to negative physical outcomes.

Chronic stress, in particular, is detrimental to health. According to a 2012 study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, chronic psychological stress affects the body’s ability to regulate inflammation and promotes the development and progression of disease.

7. Painkiller Abuse

Relying on over-the-counter painkillers every now and then to ease common aches and pains may not seem to be a serious problem but it has many side effects.

Although they help ease the pain temporarily, these painkillers come with several side effects. They can cause gastrointestinal distress; impair kidney, liver or heart function; and impair the blood’s ability to clot.