There are some habits that most of us have which may be harmful for you in the long run. You are probably doing it all right — drinking enough water, exercising every day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator — but a few everyday habits if neglected can become the reason for worry. Read on to find out more which daily habit you should avoid...
Don`t sit cross-legged all the time
According to a study, sitting with legs crossed can increase blood pressure. Leg crossing, reportedly, increased systolic blood pressure nearly 7% and diastolic by 2%. One should ideally avoid sitting cross-legged (crossing the legs at the knee) for longer than quarter of an hour. Orthopedic surgeon Dr Phadke says, "Do not keep sitting at one place for too long. After every 45 minutes take a little walk."
Always stand with your knees bent a little
Avoid standing with your knees locked because it leads to increased pressure and stress on your joints. Make sure your knees are relaxed and slightly bent. You should use the muscles that are surrounding your joints — if your knees are locked these muscles are not used and the joints have to bear the weight.
Do not sleep on your stomach all the time
If you thought that sleeping on your stomach will make your paunch go away, you are wrong. If you do not sleep on your back then the neck remains in an unnatural position and that may hamper circulation. Change your position when you are lying down.
Avoid wearing very tight belts
You want to look slim and a tight belt that is cinched at your waist can give you an hourglass look. However, this can hamper your digestion. Dr Nupur Krishnan, nutritionist says, "Tight belts worn for a long time tighten the stomach and create pressure inside your abdomen. Digestion can not happen properly and it may lead to acidity. It is best to avoid wearing belts that are too tight." Ideally, belts should only be that tight so that one should be able to sit comfortably, bend down and breathe normally with it tightened.
Avoid stretching as soon as you are awake
The discs at your back can be harmed if you stretch as soon as you are awake states Dr Upasini. As soon as you wake up, you should get up and move around, get into some activity like brushing, walking and then stretch your back he advises. Stretching as soon as you are awake can lead to severe backache and neck pain sometimes.
Do not chew gum all the time
Most of us mindlessly keep chewing gum all day. If it is a sweet one, it harms your teeth and the unsweetened ones can harm your jaw muscles.
Carry your bag differently every time
Most of us unknowingly put a lot of stress on our shoulders. Orthopedic surgeon Dr Tejas Upasini says, "Doing asymmetrical repetitive activities often result in muscular imbalances and pain. If you make a habit of carrying your handbag or purse only on your right shoulder, it becomes a pattern and there are muscle imbalances that may cause pain." Carrying lighter bags is a wise decision and also, when carrying a bag one must make sure to change the shoulder or the hand often."
Stop wearing super-tight jeans
Wearing very tight jeans and pants can lead to many health problems. If your jeans restrict your movements in any way then it is not the right one for you. At the end of the day if you feel that you are desperate to take it off and slip into something comfortable, then you should discard your tight jeans.
Keep a check on your posture
Believe it or not, the correct posture can, not just make you look slimmer and younger; it can also avoid aches and pains on your back, and shoulder. Slouching can, in the long run, really affect your shoulder and back. The right way to stand is to hold your head high, pull your stomach in and square your shoulders. Try this: Stand straight against a wall and keep your shoulders squared — the back of your head should be touching the wall, there should be space between you and the wall, at small of your back and your buttocks and heels should be touching the wall.
BDST: 1545 HRS, JAN-28, 2014
