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Things You Didn't Know Were Affecting Your Daily Health

You know about diet and exercise, but did you know these things were affecting your daily health just as heavily?

By Ossiana TepfenhartPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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Can you really put a price on being healthy? When you're sick, it's often the case that all you can think about is how great it was to be healthy and active. That's one of the two main reasons why people are willing to pay such exorbitant prices for healthcare. The other main reason, of course, is that the alternative means death.

It's crucial to take care of your health and that's why more people than ever before are doing what they can to maintain their health as well as they can through diet, sunscreen, and exercise. It's also the reason why many companies like Objecto work to create devices that improve your ability to stay healthy.

The thing is, there are many other factors that are affecting your daily health—and keeping a balanced diet alone can only do so much. If you want to keep your health at an optimal level, you're going to need to check out these surprising factors that might be detracting you...

Your Social Life

There are many things that tie into your social life affecting your daily health goals—both good and bad.

Having friends is good for you on both a physical and emotional level. Studies have shown that having a social life with many friends is linked to lower stress levels, lower blood pressure, a more optimistic outlook, lower heart disease rates, and a longer life.

However, all those nights out getting drinks and fast food with friends aren't so good. Too much alcohol and food can wreck any diet and also put you at risk for obesity, alcohol addiction, and diabetes.

The Fix: Get more friends and go out for walks instead.

Your Paycheck

How much you earn will definitely have an impact on how healthy you are. Studies showed that people who earn very high wages are much more likely to find themselves living longer lives.

In 2016, The Harvard Gazette pointed out that lifespan inequality is often linked to income inequality. Part of this is because having more money often leads to lower stress, while the other part is the fact that having more money tends to lead to better access to healthcare.

Either way, your paycheck ranks highly among things that are affecting your daily health.

The Fix: Consider taking up a side job, opening up an investment portfolio, or asking for a raise.

Your Community Involvement

Human nature tends to reward those of us who are part of a community, because it's a great way to feed into survival instincts. Studies have shown that people who participate in a community tend to feel more well-adjusted, are calmer, and also tend to be healthier than those who remain isolated.

Truth be told, the effects of social isolation are very well-documented and also extremely negative. Social isolation, especially when it comes to removal from a community, results in depression, anxiety, and even shorter lifespans.

The Fix: Consider volunteering at a local shelter or working a grassroots initiative that you're passionate about.

Air Quality

Air pollution is an increasingly dangerous issue in most parts of the world, even when it comes to life indoors. Emissions from cars, soot from local factories, and even dust from daily life all can be affecting your daily health and putting you at risk for lung-related problems.

In certain parts of the world, governments have started to send out air quality advisories because of the sheer amount of pollution wafting through the air. Believe it or not, indoor air pollution can be just as bad—if not worse—in some cases.Breathing fresh air can help you avoid lung cancer, get a better night's sleep, and also help you keep your skin feeling youthful.

The Fix: Consider an air purification system. Air purifiers eliminate pollutants and viruses in the air, allowing you to breath easier, and healthier. Give your lungs a breath of fresh air with a top of the line air purification system like Molekule.

Stress

It should come as no surprise to anyone that stress can be affecting your daily health. Study after study shows that a person who's feeling stressed and anxious will very likely not be feeling their best.

Stress has been linked to mental health issues, addiction, difficulties maintaining weight, and difficulties maintaining a healthy sleep schedule as well. People who are stressed out are also far more likely to make unhealthy choices as a result of their stress.

The Fix: Take up a yoga class, learn how to meditate, or start reading self-help books that deal with anxiety. Oh, and you also may want to cut down on caffeine, too.

Noise Pollution

Speaking of stress, have you ever noticed how noisy certain areas are? Noise pollution is the official term for unwanted noise that can cause stress, anxiety, and at times, even hearing problems, over a long period of time.

Most people have experienced noise pollution when they drove past a construction zone, heard a train passing by a bunch of homes, or even heard the level of noise that people would hear living on a busy street.

Though it doesn't involve chemicals, this kind of pollution is dangerous. It has been linked to higher anxiety, hearing problems, and perhaps most surprisingly, depression.

The Fix: Wear earplugs around annoying noises, and avoid areas with high noise pollution.

Your Relationship Status

Have a good love life? You're in luck. While some Carrie Bradshaw might say otherwise, scientists agree that your relationship status is affecting your daily health—but there's a catch here.

Studies have shown that people in long term relationships tend to live longer lives, as long as they are happy in the relationship. People who are unhappy in their relationships do not get healthier, and in the case of women in unhappy marriages, their lifespans actually dip.

Men tend to get the health benefits than women do when they are in happy relationships. Both men and women are more likely to experience weight gain from a relationship, but oddly enough, stress reduces so much that it seems like people still come out on top.

The Fix: Get a happy relationship, or stay single.

Pet Ownership

Puppies and kittens aren't just cute! Studies show that they are serious factors affecting your daily health for the better. Pet owners are much more likely to have longer lives, better mental health, lower blood pressure, and lower obesity rates—all because they have a fuzzy companion by their side.

Many aspects of pet ownership also get people into doing more physical activity, such as taking a dog for a walk. Even interacting with puppies and kittens has been seen to have positive benefits on a stressed mind. Whoever knew that having health benefits could come in such a cute package?

The Fix: Go to the ASPCA, and get a pet... or just volunteer for some free puppy time!

Social Media Usage

Yes, we all love Facebook and Twitter, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're good for us. In fact, they rank highly among the worst things affecting your daily health!

Studies have shown that people who use too much social media are far more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and poor body image than those who don't. This in turn puts people at risk for eating disorders and social anxiety.

The Fix: Put down the cell phone for a while.

Your Workplace

If you're like most average Americans, you spend upwards of 45 hours a week at work—so don't be surprised if your workplace ends up being one of the biggest factors affecting your daily health.

Everything from the stress colleagues put you through to the air pollution in your workplace can have a serious impact on your health. Doctors recommend looking for workplace environments that have low levels of pollution and low levels of stress.

Of course, in certain situations, you can also improve your workplace through healthy additions like a humidifier, a new lamp, or even just choosing to take a walk during lunch.

The Fix: Fix up your workplace, find a healthier work routine, or consider switching jobs—or all of the above.

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About the Creator

Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer based out of New Jersey. This is her work account. She loves gifts and tips, so if you like something, tip her!

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