16 Small Habits People Didn't Realize Could Negatively Impact Their Bodies
Without realizing it, there are things we do that end up hurting our bodies in the long run. Members of the BuzzFeed Community shared the small (but mighty) things they did when they were younger that had surprising, lasting effects on their bodies. Here is what they shared:
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1."I had racing thoughts when I was younger, especially at bedtime. Instead of talking to a doctor, I spoke to a friend. I started taking Tylenol PM. As with everything else, tolerance is built up. Before I received help, I was up to 5 a night. I did this for years. I cannot imagine what my liver looks like. I thank God that I didn't drink much. It doesn't appeal to me."
2."Bad or ill-fitting bras. Lots of places will fit you for free, but AT LEAST measure yourself using the formula on the internet. And if you're over a B cup, I would not recommend going cheap if possible. You'll destroy your back, your posture will be difficult and painful or impossible to correct, and your girls will sag early."
3."Ballet. I did it for nearly 15 years, ever since I was really young, and good God, I wish I had quit sooner. There’s the mental aspect to it (i.e., body dysmorphia and perfectionism) and the physical aspect — toe and foot issues, ankle problems, and high arches to the point of it being a problem, not to mention permanently hyper-extended knees. Fun times. Fun, fun times."
4."Retail on my feet in heels for 20+ years on carpeted concrete floors. My knees and hands have arthritis and periodic pain. Fallen arches and numbing fingertips and toes may never return. Learn the importance of good shoes and body mechanics when heavy lifting."
5."I worked graveyard shifts. It’s crazy how you can’t sleep through the day like you would at night."
6."I can't stress enough that people should be professionally fitted for shoes. Not at run-of-the-mill stores but someplace where they have been trained to do it properly. I learned I was wearing the wrong size shoe for years because that's what 'seemed' to fit, but one of my feet is slightly longer than the other, and I needed to go up a half size. It greatly improved my feet, knees, legs, and back."
7."The military. You're forced to push through any pain. I'm 40 now with a special needs child. My body and mind are broken. Every day is a physical and emotional struggle. I have to be strong for her. Every day hurts."
8."Music on headphones didn't get me, but concerts eventually did. I didn't need plugs or anything at my small-town venue. I went out of the area to see Motorhead (RIP Lemmy), and I got my fucking face rocked off. My ears rang forever, but thankfully, they stopped."
9."The long-term consequences of living with an abusive partner. Living in a near-constant state of fight or flight can set you up for a future of chronic disease. Prolonged stress causes physiological changes to the body, including elevated inflammation levels, disordered immune system function, and messed up hormone balance. You risk developing autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, and substance addictions. If you are living with abuse, please seek help and get away. I know from experience! After nearly 30 years of abuse, I escaped, only to be later plagued with multiple chronic health issues, which are likely a result of long-term stress. Stay safe and get far, far away from abusive relationships."
10."Floss your teeth regularly. In my youth, I refused to believe it did anything significant if you were already brushing. I have spent so much money on dental work. I wish I had always cared for my teeth as well as I do now."
11."Not wearing sunglasses! Not only will it cause crow's-feet, but your eyes/retinas will get damaged from all the sun exposure."
12."Dental Health. I had tooth pain, could not afford proper care, got a heart infection. Permanent damage to my lung, heart, and brain."
13."As a kid growing up, I was never taught to eat properly and have a balanced meal. We ate way too much red meat without having the balance of eating grains as well. Fast forward to when I hit 48 years old, my large intestine ruptured because of diverticulitis. I also died from this. Teach your kids to eat healthy."
14."Stress. I had a traumatic upbringing, so I'm already primed to be an anxious person. Then, there was a 5-year stint of my life that was highly stressful (losing our apartment with a newborn, a year of unemployment and no health insurance, two kids with complicated medical issues, etc.). I ended up having a heart attack at age 34. I have no other risk factors for heart attack, no family history, I've never smoked, and I'm vegan. The doctor's best guess was that it was stress-related. The heart attack likely took years off my life, and now I have to get my heart checked regularly."
15."Gymnastics as a kid. I was way too tall and growing too fast to be good at it. It was probably a good workout, but I fractured and compressed my tailbone at least three times between the ages of 8 and 11. I believe those fractures combined with years of strenuous and repetitive athletic training in my teens led to me developing degenerative disc disease by the time I was 13 and chronic back pain from 13-27."
"Surprisingly, having three full-term pregnancies resulting in four children in four years actually ended up straightening me out (for the most part). My back may still be screwed up worse than the average middle-aged woman, but at least it doesn’t hurt ALL the time anymore. But I blame the pointless gymnastics over any other sports I played over my first 20 years of life."
16."I’ve been told for years now that I grind my teeth when I sleep. The mouthguards I bought at the store didn’t help me because I kept spitting them out in my sleep. My dentist recommended a custom-made one, but it was too expensive. Today, I’ve had roughly ten root canals, and my front teeth needed to be rebuilt. The mouth guard would’ve been way cheaper."
Is there anything else you could add to this list? If so, share it with me in the comments below!
