Did you know that certain daily habits can damage your brain? And we aren’t just talking about affecting your mental well-being, these habits are actually closely linked to causing damage to your brain itself.
This is important because damaged brain tissue can make you more susceptible to developing illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, which stem from cognitive decline. Therefore becoming aware of some of these habits may help you reduce the risk of damaging your brain early on!
So with that, here are 9 harmful habits that can damage your brain.
Before we begin, we would like to mention that this article is created for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute a medical or professional diagnosis. If you suspect you experience cognitive decline or any health conditions in general, we highly advise you to seek help from a qualified health professional.
1: Staying in the Dark Too Much
Do you often stare into absolute darkness, hoping that you’d fall asleep but can't? Do you love staying in the dark even during day time? Not getting enough natural light may make you depressed, and that can have a negative impact on your brain.
Sunlight helps keep your brain working well. Without it, your brain doesn't know when or how to release that sweet, sweet melatonin. So, ironically, staying in the dark for too long will eventually leave you sleep-deprived.
2: Consuming too much negative news
Did you know that the media you consume every day can impact your emotions, thinking, and behavior? According to Psychotherapist, it can be damaging to constantly read about the news because constant exposure to negative information can impact your brain.
The over-consumption of negative news can trigger your fight or flight response, which can take a toll on your physical, emotional, and mental health.
3: Blasting headphones
Did you know that listening to music a little too loud could be bad for your brain? While using headphones to listen to music can be convenient and relaxing, blasting music to your ears for a long period of time can actually do more harm than good for your brain.
Experts have agreed that loud music may lead to hearing loss, which could cause memory impairments down the line.
4: Social isolation
Do you always avoid social events or gatherings? The impact of social isolation can actually be pretty shocking. Other than the commonly known mental health effects of social isolation, such as depression, there are also potential negative effects on the brain itself. According to a 2012 study chronic social stress, such as social isolation, causes stress responses in the brain that can make you more susceptible to strokes.
5: Too much screen time
Do you spend a lot of your time on the internet or social media? Too much screen time can not only damage your mental health, but it can damage both gray and white matter in several key areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobe, where processing and higher-order thinking occurs.
While it would be almost impossible to go without technology or social media completely in today’s day and age, it’s important to be conscious of and moderate the amount of time you spend in front of a screen.
6: Consuming too much sugar
Are you the type to crave candy bars, cupcakes, or sodas after a long day? This may be because craving sugar is one of your brain’s ways of responding to stress. But it’s important to be aware of just how much sugar you are consuming because, , taking in too much sugar may lead to an imbalance of nutrients in the body, which could further extend to malnourishment in the brain.
7: Skipping breakfast
How often do you skip breakfast? Whether it’s waking up in a frenzy or not feeling hungry early in the morning, taking a pass on breakfast may sound appealing. , it’s another practice that can lead to malnourishment in your brain. Think about it: when you were asleep, your body went approximately 8 hours without food. So in order to function at your best throughout the day, it is crucial to replenish all the energy and nutrition lost at night.
8: You’re barely moving
How often do you exercise? Whether it’s taking a swim in the pool or going for a quick jog in the morning, doing exercise can greatly improve brain function! exercise helps oxygenate your brain and release growth-promoting hormones.
So depriving yourself of these exercise-induced benefits could stunt brain development, and over time, negatively affect your overall wellbeing.
9: Poor sleeping habits
Do you sleep enough, or too much? The number of hours you sleep as well as the way you sleep can have an effect on your energy, mental health, as well as impact your brain function and memory. Being deprived of enough sleep can negatively impact your long-term memory, and cause your brain to function in ways it’s not used to.
sleeping with your covers over your head is also bad for your brain as it disrupts the oxygen flow between your brain and body. Do you relate to any of these harmful habits? Recognizing these habits early on and working to change them can help you minimize your risk of damaging brain tissue.
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