Here are common health slip-ups people make every day. How many have you committed?
1. You touched your face.
You
just can’t keep your hands off yourself: People touch their faces an
average of nearly four times per hour, according to researchers at the
National Institutes of Health. Why is that a problem? Well, your desk
harbours hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than the toilet
seats in your office building, according to researchers at the
University of Arizona. So when you rest your hands on a germy surface
and then bring them to your forehead, it increases your likelihood of
getting sick — and breaking out, too. “Simply rubbing or touching your
face can lead to a condition called acne mechanica,” says Whitney Bowe, a
New York City-based dermatologist. “The friction against your pores can
cause them to clog, resulting in breakouts up to two weeks later.”
2. You stayed glued to your chair.
Plenty of research
suggests that sitting too much is harmful to your health. In addition to
increasing your risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and
death — as if that isn’t enough encouragement to stand the heck up — a
new Northwestern University study says each additional hour spent
sitting per day increases your risk of becoming physically disabled by
about 50 per cent. Worse, many studies have found that excessive sitting
can take a toll on your wellbeing even if you exercise daily. Get off
your butt for a few minutes every 30 to 60 minutes. Consider sporting a
self-monitoring device such as a pedometer or FitBit, which research
shows can encourage you to take more steps throughout the day.
3. You checked Facebook several times.
Your
Facebook habit could put your relationship on the rocks. Researchers in
Chile found that the likelihood of a person thinking about leaving his
or her spouse in the last 12 months is nearly twice as high for those
who frequently use social media compared to those who forego Facebook.
The social hub may spark jealousy between partners and makes it easier
than ever to have an affair, researchers say.
4. You snacked at your desk.
Orange-stained
fingers and an empty Twisties bag aren’t the only clues you’ve been
snacking behind your computer. Your waistline may provide some evidence,
too. University of Liverpool researchers found that people who eat
meals or snacks while distracted consume more calories, and the effects
continue later in the day as well. Quit multi-tasking while eating.
Power down distractions during mealtimes and focus on your food.
5. You rubbed your eyes.
“Eye rubbing has been linked to
a disease known as keratoconus, a progressive weakening and thinning of
the cornea that causes loss of vision and can’t be corrected by LASIK,
soft contact lenses, or eyeglasses,” says Keith Walter, professor of
Ophthalmology at Wake Forest University. Freaky! If you wear contacts,
rubbing could cause a lens to get stuck under your eyelid. Fortunately,
there’s a cul-de-sac-like structure that prevents it from going
completely behind your eye, but it can get lodged way up there. “I found
three contact lenses stuck under the lid in one patient, likely from
aggressive eye rubbing,” Dr. Walter says. Talk to your optometrist if
you experience itchiness, dryness, or contact lens discomfort. He or she
can address the underlying issue to help you keep your paws out of your
peepers.
6. You cluttered up your workspace.
The
state of your desk could influence the state of your health. In a
University of Minnesota study, participants spent time in either neat or
cluttered office spaces. Ten minutes later they were offered an apple
or a chocolate bar. Sixty-seven per cent of people who stayed in the
orderly office picked the apple, whereas 80 per cent who spent time in
disorganised workspaces opted for the candy bar. An organised
environment encourages you to make conventionally good decisions, a.k.a.
those you know are better for you, researchers say.
7. You held in your pee.
Trying
to ignore nature’s call while finishing a conference call? Better make a
beeline to the bathroom. Occasionally holding your urine is okay, but
regularly clamping down on your sphincter can cause serious problems
such as a urinary tract infection and bladder infection, and can even
contribute to incontinence by weakening muscles involved in bladder
control.
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