Your health is one of those things that you don’t appreciate until it’s gone. It;s relatively easy to stay healthy when you’re young, but the older you get, the more difficult it is to maintain good health.
You’d also be surprised at the amounts of threats there are to your physical and mental health. We know to eat certain food and drink enough water, as well as to go to the doctor when we’re unwell, but how else can we look after our health?
Here are some threats to your health that you may or may not know about, as well as how to counteract them.
Poor Sleep Habits
It’s not exactly a secret that we need sleep. But you might be surprised at how important it is for you to get a regular and healthy level of sleep every day. If you haven’t slept well for the night, you likely feel rough in the morning and you might be tired all day. But you should still be able to function.
Major issues arise when you regularly don’t sleep properly. This can lead to sleep deprivation, which can have surprisingly major consequences on your health.
When you sleep, your body restores itself. Without this, your body gets worn out. You might be headachey and irritable. Over time, your cognitive abilities degrade and you might think or react more slowly than usual. Poor sleep can also lead to higher stress and anxiety.
Bad sleep can also have a significant impact on your cardiovascular health. Poor sleep and certain sleep disorders can even lead to heart rhythm irregularities and might increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Lack of Fitness
Again, most people are aware of the link between fitness and good health. But you might not be aware of just how important exercise is to everyone.
Fitness isn’t just for gym enthusiasts and people who are trying to lose weight. Even if you’re at a healthy weight due to a controlled diet, you still need to work out to be healthy. Modern life is an increasingly sedentary life, which is far more dangerous than you might think.
According to a study by the WHO, physical inactivity is a leading cause of disease and disability throughout the world.
Many people get up, get in a car or on public transport and travel to work. At work, a lot of jobs involve sitting at a computer for hours on end, before commuting back home. When you’re home, you’re so tired from your day of work that you sit and watch television until bed. This is the definition of a sedentary lifestyle and it’s incredibly common.
It’s recommended to have at least half an hour of moderate activity per day, but this shouldn’t be all you do. Try to keep moving as much as possible. Other forms of exercise, like strength training, can be good for your joints and muscles. You can train your strength at home by using kettlebells and specific exercises.
Mold and Toxins
You might have a potential danger to your health in your home or workplace and not even know about it.
Mold is a common issue in homes that get damp or have particularly humid rooms. While some mold is unsightly but harmless, a lot of mold, or certain types of mold, can lead to health issues. The most common symptoms related to mold exposure are respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing. People with asthma are more prone to this.
Some mold can also cause specific infections that could be even more dangerous. Another potential health concern could be allergic reactions or skin irritations.
Mold isn’t the only toxin that can cause problems. Older properties may contain asbestos, which is a known carcinogenic. If you live or work in an older building, it might be worth checking this out with an asbestos survey, especially if nearby buildings have asbestos.
Air Pollution
Much like mold and other toxins that spread through the air, pollution can cause some health problems. If you live in a city with high congestion, you might notice lower air quality. This can lower lung function and cause symptoms like shortness of breath or coughing.
Again, if you already have a chronic condition that causes respiratory problems like asthma, these problems might be exacerbated. A lot of air pollution has been linked to serious conditions like emphysema and COPD.
In some cases, it’s necessary to move away from areas with high air pollution. You can also use masks with filters to reduce the amount of pollution you breathe in.
If you ever spend a week in the countryside and can’t help but notice that it’s easier to breathe, that’s a sign you’ve been exposed to air pollution at home. Some cities are trying to reduce emissions for cleaner air, which will hopefully help with this issue.
Stress and Mental Health
Stress, anxiety, and depression are the most common mental health problems around the world. You might be aware of how difficult it is to deal with these issues, but you’d be surprised at how much they can impact your physical health.
Depression, for example, causes fatigue. It can also lead to self-neglect, which causes other health problems. Stress is infamous for physical symptoms and even long-term health problems.
Over time, stress interferes with your sleep pattern, which leads to other issues. You might also feel physical pain, nausea, weight changes, or other symptoms. But dealing with the root issue can also relieve these physical symptoms.
Drug-Resistant Disease
Modern medicine is amazing, but it has had the unfortunate side effect of drug resistant diseases. Microbes change and adapt to different threats, so some are able to resist antibiotics and other drugs.
The best option is to be vigilant with your health. Try to boost your immune system and be as healthy as possible so you’re less likely to get ill. If you do get unwell, act quickly, follow your doctor’s advice, and finish any drug courses you’re put on.
Feature image by Joshua Chehov on Unsplash
