Lifestyle Nightmares: Five Common Bad Habits You Need To Change

Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » Life & Style

Lifestyle Nightmares: Five Common Bad Habits You Need To Change

Spending time in the sun without sunscreen is a bad habit that can lead to skin cancer

Thursday April 25, 2019 11:42 PM, ummid.com News Network

Heart disease and cancer are two leading causes of death in the United States. Not all heart disease and cancer cases are preventable, but many are.

How are they preventable? Through healthy lifestyle choices!

Unhealthy lifestyle habits lower your quality of life and can even cause death. If you're making bad choices, isn't it time for a change?

Here are five common bad habits you should eliminate.

1. Smoking

Smoking has no positive benefits for your health. Here are a few, but not all, of the negative effects of smoking:

Increased heart rate
Restricted blood vessels
Increased carbon monoxide in the bloodstream
Decreased lung function
Type II diabetes
Blindness
Erectile dysfunction
Lung cancer
Throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Colorectal cancer
Breast cancer
Birth defects
Fertility problems
Gum disease

Not every smoker experiences all these negative effects. But almost one in five deaths in the U.S. is from cigarette smoking.
If you're a smoker, quit.

2. Excessive Alcohol Use

Alcohol consumption becomes an addiction for many people. If you're consuming a lot of alcohol, consider limiting the amount or quitting.

Do you wonder if you're drinking too much? Here's how to know.

If you're a man, limit your alcohol to two drinks per day. If you're a woman, limit yourself to one per day.

3. Going Without Sunscreen

Most skin cancers are preventable. Spending time in the sun without sunscreen is a bad habit that can lead to skin cancer.

Wear sunscreen daily, especially if you'll be in the sun for more than 15 minutes. Get a broad-spectrum sunscreen that's SPF 30 or higher. Slather it all over your body and reapply every two hours when in the sun.

4. Late-Night Snacking and Emotional Eating

Most people enjoy a snack in the evening now and then, but if it's a daily habit, give it up. Late-night snacking adds extra calories you don't need. It also raises your insulin levels before bed.

Fasting between meals lowers insulin levels and prevents insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to type II diabetes.

Eating when you're stressed, sad, or anxious is also a bad habit. If you're eating for any of these reasons, you're probably not eating healthy foods.

Sweets, unhealthy fats, and carbohydrates all lead to weight gain, obesity, and diabetes. Eat plenty of healthy foods and leave the sweets for a treat now and then.

5. Ignoring Preventative Medical Checkups

Preventative health checkups are a must.

Many diseases are treatable if caught early. Breast cancer survival rates are almost 100% when the disease is caught early. That stat drops to 20% when disease detection happens in the later stages.

Get an annual checkup with blood work and gender-appropriate health tests.

Rid Yourself of Common Bad Habits

These are five of some of the worst common bad habits people have. Getting healthy isn't always easy, but it's worth it. Don't forget your sunscreen!

If you're a smoker, ask your doctor about quitting. Don't forget to limit alcohol, late-night snacking, and emotional eating.

Get annual medical checkups and keep your doctor informed about any changes in your body and health. Getting rid of these common bad habits means longer, healthier life! Looking for more ways to get healthy?

For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.