There’s little need to worry about your health. After all, though the modern world gets a bit of a bad rap from time to time, it’s also true that this is the healthiest society we’ve ever had. If you do encounter an issue, it’s highly likely that there’ll be a treatment available to you and that you’ll continue living a happy and fulfilling life.
Still, it’s easier to prevent an issue than to manage one. While most people are aware of the big issues — such as smoking or extreme sports — that can cause health concerns, not everyone is aware of the small, everyday matters that can also pose a threat.
In this post, we’ll look at some everyday threats to your well-being, and also make some recommendations on how to prevent them from having an impact on you.
Sitting Down
It’s normal to sit down. But it’s very much not normal to sit down as much as we do. Some people spend the whole day in a chair, be that in their vehicle, at the office, or on the couch. While this can seem like an ordinary and comfortable thing to do, it’s important to keep in mind that it would look very odd to our ancestors, who spent much more time standing up than we do. Sitting down has been called “the new smoking” because of its many implications.
In fact, so many people are actually getting injured at work just from sitting and it causes harm to their spines, so this is something that you really need to be aware of. Whether you end up in a situation where you need a personal injury lawyer, or you are just trying to keep yourself healthy, it’s something that you need to take care with.
The solution to this problem? Stand up more!
Alcohol Consumption
As with sitting down, alcohol consumption is pretty normalized in the United States. Many of us like to have a beer or a glass of wine after a long day of work. Still, it’s important to think about the health implications of drinking. Even a little bit of alcohol can impact your cognitive abilities, while excessive drinking has been linked to heart disease, stress, and other health concerns.
Many people think that they need alcohol in their lives, but that’s not true; it is not a human necessity. Try giving up alcohol for a month and see how you feel. In all likelihood, the mental clarity, energy, and positive mindset you have will ensure that you stay alcohol-free for good.
The Roads
There’s no denying that vehicles have made our lives much easier, but there has been a cost to that convenience. Despite advancements in vehicle safety, there are still many accidents each year that cause injuries and, in some cases, even death; you only need to see the number of people getting in contact with a motorcycle accident lawyer to see just how dangerous the roads can be. While there’s no way to fully prevent an incident on the road, there are things you can do to increase your safety, including driving safely, avoiding driving when tired, and giving plenty of space to other vehicles on the road.
High Stress
There are a lot of advantages to living in the modern world. But it can be stressful from time to time. Actually, it can be stressful a lot of the time. While a little bit of stress isn’t going to cause you too much harm — it can be a good thing, even — if your stress is consistently high, then you’ll be at increased risk of heart disease and stroke, along with a whole host of other medical conditions.
If stress is an issue for you, then it’s recommended to actively work on keeping it to a minimum. Things such as meditation, yoga, and spending time in nature have all been shown to have a calming effect.
Urban Air
Do you live in an urban area? Then you might think that the greatest threat to your well-being is other people, but that’s not true — crime rates have been consistently going down for decades now. The real threat is invisible: the air. One study suggested that air pollution may be responsible for up to 40,000 deaths a year in the UK alone.
There’s no immediate solution for this that people can follow other than wearing a face mask or moving to the countryside. Beyond that, it’s all about badgering your local politicians to take action!
Physical Activity
Don’t get us wrong: physical activity is very much good for you, and you should certainly be trying to work up a sweat multiple times a week. But it’s important to do so in the right way. Many people end up injuring themselves all because of one simple reason: they don’t stretch before engaging in physical activity. This can be problematic because if you suffer a serious injury, then you may never take up exercising again. It’s better to do a little bit of exercise each week for the rest of your life, rather than intense exercise for six months before you suffer a serious injury.
Wellness Trends
It seems like every day there’s a new wellness trend doing the rounds on the internet. While there’s some merit to some of these trends, it’s important not to adopt any and all new trends that you see online. You might be looking for quick answers that will improve your health, but in all likelihood, it won’t come from the TikTok influencer who’s trying to build an audience. You can actually cause yourself harm if you follow new trends without thinking about how they may impact your health.
Sleep Issues
Both getting too little and too much sleep can be bad for your health, and can cause a wide range of short- and long-term issues. If you have sleep problems, then take a look at your sleeping routine/schedule, and make adjustments that make it easier to get 6 – 7 hours.
Sugary Drinks and Processed Food
Finally, there’s the products we consume. It’s relatively normal to pick up a can of Coke at the store, but the truth is that those sugar drinks are not good for you. There’s no nutritional value whatsoever, and the same can be said for many processed foods. The solution here is to learn the art of cooking healthy meals at home.