14 Popular Habits That Secretly Hurt Your Body

Soon after birth, people’s habits start to form. We develop more and more habits with each year that we live. But we rarely consider how even these little everyday actions might actually be hurting us.

We at CHEERY decided to learn more about habits that seem harmless but can actually be quite dangerous over time.

Frequently standing on one leg

We often stand with our weight shifted to one of our legs because it’s more comfortable. But if you do it too often, you risk developing health problems: body asymmetry, more load for the lower back, and more frequent backaches. So, it’s better not to be in this position for too long, especially if you have to stand often.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum may help you focus as you do something. But chewing it too often can be harmful, especially if you chew it for more than 15-20 minutes. Sometimes, it can lead to jaw discomfort and headaches.

Breathing through your mouth

It’s hard to believe that breathing can be dangerous. But it can be if you breathe through your mouth. Inhaling through your mouth doesn’t bring in enough oxygen for your blood. It also makes your saliva dry up, causing bad breath.

Working in dim lighting

If you want to preserve the sharpness of your mind, don’t work under dim lights for too long. If you spend too much time in dim light, your brain structure can change, causing your body’s levels of the peptide hormone (which keeps the neuron connections healthy) to decrease.

Keeping face masks on for too long

If you let a sheet mask dry on your face, it may cause skin problems. Korean-beauty expert Charlotte Cho says that you shouldn’t leave a face mask on for more than 20 minutes, or the skin will be irritated and dehydrated. The good ingredients might end up doing harm instead of giving you the healthy benefits they are intended to provide.

Filing nails from side to side

This may be a mistake many people have never even thought about. Filing from side to side damages the nail. Do it in one direction from the edge to the center. If you do it side to side, the tip of the nail might crack, even though it’s faster this way.

Being alone too often

Scientists studying loneliness came to the conclusion that being lonely often can have a negative effect on both physical and mental state. When people are alone, there’s a higher risk of these problems:

• high blood pressure
• cardiovascular disease
• obesity
• weak immune system
• bad cognitive functions

So, no matter how introverted you are, get outside and meet your friends and family regularly.

Drinking decaf coffee

Decaf coffee may negatively impact your health because it’s made from more fatty ingredients. Doctors warn that it can increase levels of bad cholesterol, which can eventually lead to the forming of cholesterol plaque that clogs the blood vessels. This can lead to a higher risk of heart failure.

Using toothpicks

A toothpick is something you should use only as a last resort. Often when people use them, they do more harm than good. Toothpicks can traumatize your gums through regular use. You should also definitely avoid toothpicks that are not stored in individual packs. Use a toothbrush, floss, or a water flosser to keep your gums healthy.

Sitting cross-legged

Yes, we all like this position, but being in it for too long can lead to unpleasant consequences. This position can increase your blood pressure. High blood pressure is bad for the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. This is why it’s better to avoid sitting like this, especially if your blood pressure is already high.

Using sunscreen

Sunscreens themselves are very good because they protect us from UV light. But don’t use them too much, and be careful about the ingredients used in the sunscreen you choose. For example, retinyl palmitate makes the skin more susceptible to sun damage, while oxybenzone may cause an allergic reaction and hormone disruption.

Using mosquito coils

Everyone knows that any picnic can be ruined by mosquitos. This is why many people buy coils that, when burned, help protect them from insects. But according to scientists from Sydney University, one coil produces as much smoke as 75-137 cigarettes. This amount is enough to cause breathing issues in anyone near the coil.

Using a computer mouse non-stop

If you work with your hands a lot, strain them, and don’t take breaks often enough, sooner or later you will feel a tingling sensation or numbness. This is a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, which appears when your median nerve is pinched. Such symptoms are typically found in people that use a computer mouse for too long, type frequently, use vibrating tools, draw, or knit. To avoid problems, take regular breaks, aiming for 10-15 minutes of rest every hour.

Wearing pointy-toed shoes

All pointy-toed shoes, no matter how high the heel, push on the toes and cause discomfort for your feet for several hours after the fact. If you wear such shoes too often, you can develop abnormalities in your toes.

Do you know any other seemingly harmless habits that are actually bad for us?