Wearing heels
More and more of us are opting to wear heels on a daily
basis, and this could be bad news for our health. High heels affect our
posture, put pressure on joints, and can lead to a range of conditions
including arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries – and that’s before you take into account any heel-related accidents! To minimize damage, limit your heels to 1.5 inches for daily wear, and wear insoles to help reduce the pressure on joints.
Carrying a heavy handbag
With the rising number of gadgets and accessories the majority of
women haul around, many of us are carrying around several pounds of
weight on our shoulders every day. As a result, lots of us are also
putting our long term health at risk. While you may not feel the effects
right now, lugging around a heavy handbag can lead to
serious back problems and neck pain as well as
poor posture.
Don’t wait until the damage is done – do your health a favour and try
clearing out all non-essential items and switching to a smaller bag.
Sleeping in makeup
Most of us have succumbed to the temptation to sleep in our
post-party makeup at some point. However, leaving makeup on overnight –
along with the dirt and oil that naturally accumulates on skin
throughout the day –is a quick route to
clogged pores, congested skin and spots. Sleeping with mascara and eye makeup on can also affect your health by causing
eye irritation,
bloodshot eyes or even
infection.
Matching men drink for drink
From networking drinks to first dates and social events, there are
many instances when women may feel compelled to keep up with the
drinking habits of the opposite sex. However,
women not only tend to weigh less than men but they have
less body water to dilute the alcohol
,
which means they tend to get more drunk more quickly. To minimize the
risks of alcohol on your health, try to keep within the recommended
guidelines for alcohol consumption and alternate alcohol with soft
drinks.
Wearing the wrong bra size
It is thought that
more than 70 per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size.
However, wearing a badly fitted bra can not only affect the look of
your clothes, but research suggests it can cause a range of health
problems including
back, neck and breast pain,
breathing difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation, circulation
problems and even irritable bowel syndrome. Rather than guessing your
size, make sure you get measured to ensure you are getting the support
you need.
Worrying and harboring regrets
Stress is damaging to both our physical and mental health, and
women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress-related disorders,
as well as having higher rates of depression and anxiety. While it is
thought there may be biological reasons for this, worrying about the
future and dwelling on regrets can also add to our problems, with
research suggesting that
women are more than twice as likely as men to harbor regrets over lost loves and broken relationships.
Obsessing over appearance
While both genders suffer from body insecurity, many women tend to
overly obsess over their idea of the “perfect” body. Research findings
published in the journal
Obstetrics & Gynecology found that
16 per cent of the normal or underweight women studied believed
themselves to be overweight, while a study commissioned by Dove found
that
90 per of women wanted to change at least one aspect of their appearance.
Body insecurity not only affects our mental health, but it can also
lead to physical damage caused by extreme diets, yo-yo dieting, eating
disorders and cosmetic surgery.
Emotional eating
While comfort eating affects both genders, research has suggested
that men are more likely to reinforce positive emotions with food, while
women comfort eat when they’re sad. Women are also more likely to satisfy their cravings with
sweet, high calorie foods.
Rather than letting your waistline suffer next time you’re feeling
blue, try distracting yourself from cravings by doing something you
enjoy, or boost your endorphins and health with an uplifting workout.
Not getting enough sleep
Not only can lack of sleep make us look and feel at our worst, but insufficient shut-eye can also lead to
increased accidents, calorie consumption and heart disease risk. Unluckily for women, statistics suggest that
sleep problems affect more women than men,
while a study by the University of Michigan found that women are more
than twice as likely to give up sleep to care for others. Unfortunately,
sleep has been found to affect women’s blood pressure and mood more
than men’s, making it imperative that you do your best to get a good
night’s sleep.
Putting themselves last
Not only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to
care for children and others, they are also prone to putting their own
wants and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores and
obligations. To avoid running yourself into the ground, learn to
sometimes say no to those requests and commitments that are less than
essential, and make sure you
set aside some “me” time each week to do something enjoyable just for you.
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