Common Ways You Are Damaging Your Body Without Even Knowing It

There are certain habits we all know that wreak havoc on our body; chain smoking, eating processed, fatty foods, and consuming a lot of alcohol. We know these are bad for us based on the mainstream media, but did you know that there are a lot of small things we are doing that damage our body without us realizing it?

So whether you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, or you are looking for some personal injury insight, take note of these small, unhealthy actions so you can change your daily habits for the better.

Wearing earbudsLately, wireless earbuds have hit the world has a big fashion statement, but they can be bad for your ears for a variety of reasons. Not only can you risk hearing loss the more you use them, it isn’t because of the reason you may think. Having something fit so snugly in your ears can cause impacted earwax, which can cause hearing loss if it goes unattended. Plus, these earbuds aren’t always clean, which increases your risk for ear infections and aural canal problems.

Not going to the bathroom frequentlyIf you find that you are holding yourself from going to the bathroom whenever nature calls, consider changing your habits. Holding urine in your bladder can actually cause a lot of tension in your bladder muscles, which weakens them over time. Also, the longer you hold urine, the higher the risk that your body will be exposed to harmful bacteria in the urine.

Putting your purse on your dining tableUnfortunately, your purse is made of soft fabrics that easily hold onto bacteria and other contaminants. Chances are your purse is full of a lot of germs from setting it down in restaurants, public restrooms, or even food prep surfaces. So when you place your purse on your dining table, these germs are transferred and can contaminate your plate of food. To bypass this, be diligent in wiping down your purse with a disinfectant wipe once a week, and only hang your purse and bags on a dedicated hook.

Walking or running without a proper stretchYour body needs to stretch to work optimally, but most of us forget this and start walking or running without stretching properly. In addition, even if you aren’t planning on vigorously exercising, you still need a good stretch. This means if you are going for a walk at the mall or around the block, do a few toe touches and quadricep stretches to get your body prepared for movement. If you don’t, the likelihood that you will experience cramping increases, while also putting you at risk for bigger injuries such as needing ligament or tendon repair.

Eating before you go to bedYou may be craving a snack right before you head to bed, but refrain from doing so. Eating before you lie down can cause a bunch of problems such as acid reflux or GERD, which is gastroesophageal reflux disease. Plus, the sugars and carbs in your snack may cause you to stay up longer than you planned, causing insomnia. So to prevent this, stop eating after bedtime and only snack if you’ll be up for at least three more hours, which leaves your body time for proper digestion. If you are experiencing reflux when in bed, prop your head and shoulders up on a few pillows for some relief.

Our bodies are fragile, and we need to take care of them as much as possible. With this in mind, consider changing your habits to ensure your body is in tip top shape!

Freelance writer with BA in English from Binghamton.