The brain is the body’s powerhouse. In the age of self-awareness and self-development, we get tips from every channel on how to live healthily. Often brain health is forgotten. It is human nature to indulge in the very activities that you are advised against. However, sometimes we genuinely don’t know that we are endangering ourselves. Keep reading to find out some habits that you may not be aware expose your brain to harm.
- Salt
The taste of salt is appealing to many people. In fact, it is common to see people form a habit of adding extra salt to already salted food. On the surface, it may look like just a bad habit but too much salt can result in brain damage. Salt is dangerous because it increases your risk of high blood pressure. The blood pressure then leads to cognitive deficits and increases your chances of having a stroke.
- High noise levels
If you’re constantly wearing your headphones then you must have heard several people warn you about the dangers of listening to music at high volume. You should probably listen to those warnings. The high levels of noise that we experience in our daily lives today from headphones, cars honking in traffic and other sources of loud music pose a danger. The high levels of noise result in hearing impairment. Studies show that people with hearing impairments have a higher risk of cognitive deterioration.
- Overreliance on Google
Googling has become part of our lifestyles. Google provides information on literally everything. As a result, people stopped striving to keep information in their brains because they can just Google it. This behaviour is actually harmful to your brain. Studies show that this habit leads to an inability to memorize lists in the correct order. Previously people memorized phone numbers, students put to memory a lot of information learnt in classrooms. Today, people don’t bother memorizing because they can get that information in a single click. This reduces the brain’s memory capacity.
- Sleep Deprivation
Sleep is important because it gives the brain a chance to rest and repair itself. Sleeping for fewer hours increases the chances of brain damage. Many people today sleep for less than the 7 hours recommended for optimum health. Lack of enough sleep leads to reduced cognitive function. Health: 10 Dangers Of Insufficient Sleep
- Lack of social interactions
Conversations are extremely powerful and useful to the brain. Studies show that having at least 10 minutes of conversation with another person improves cognitive functioning. Conversation helps us process thoughts, and emotions and then convert them into comprehensive language. This process is beneficial to the brain. Research also shows that elderly people who engage in conversation and have frequent social interactions have better cognitive functioning than those with fewer interpersonal interactions.
- Covering your head fully while sleeping
For some people, sleeping with their head under the covers provides them with more comfort. However, covering your head is harmful to your brain. The brain requires oxygen. Covering yourself increases the level of carbon dioxide which is harmful to your brain.
- Skipping breakfast
Breakfast has been dubbed the most important meal of the day. However, despite such statements, many people skip breakfast. The busy lifestyles that people live today force them to forego breakfast. People wake up too early to beat traffic and get to work on time leaving no room to prepare or have a decent breakfast. Skipping breakfast leads to a drop in blood sugar levels which is related to lower cognitive function.
- Habitual smoking
The dangers of smoking are often talked about. Smoking also has negative effects on your brain. The nicotine in most products can lead to brain shrinking, which eventually leads to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alcohol consumption
Drinking between 15 and 20 standard drinks per week increases a person’s chances of damaging the hippocampus. Studies conducted showed deterioration of cognitive ability in individuals who were habitual drinkers. Alcohol damages the part of the brain associated with spatial navigation and memory. A person who drinks more than 20 drinks in a week is three times more likely to damage this part of the brain.
Read on Brain Food: 8 Foods That Promote Mental Health and 7 Daily Practices That Boost Brain Health
