Seven Lifestyle Mistakes
Today, you strive to lead a healthy lifestyle: you exercise, eat right, and take care of your skin. But who were you before? Perhaps a teenager who spent hours sunbathing? A student who never missed an opportunity to visit clubs and bars? Or a woman completely ignorant of contraception? Unfortunately, the past cannot be changed, and what’s done is already done. However, don’t beat yourself up or fear the consequences of your mistakes. A fresh start is possible at any age. If you’ve already kicked your bad habits, you’ve taken the first step toward your health. However, with proper attention, your body can recover on its own—the cardiovascular and immune systems, in particular, often forgive their “sins.” In this article, we’ll discuss seven common health “crimes” most often committed by women. You’ll learn the potential consequences of such misdeeds and how to avoid unpleasant consequences in the future.
1. Excessive Tanning
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Years spent in the sun or tanning beds have left a noticeable mark on your skin, which was struggling to survive. Tanning isn’t just an unhealthy habit; it’s a distress signal for your skin. The result can be numerous wrinkles and age spots. But what’s more serious is the increased risk of skin cancer, which can manifest itself 10 to 15 years later. Studies have shown that those who have sunburned at least three times are three times more likely to develop melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. For those who frequently sunbathed between the ages of 15 and 24, the risk increases 13-fold! This is because sun exposure temporarily weakens the immune system, allowing the disease to develop unchecked. Tanning bed users risk even more serious complications: the risk of skin cancer and premature aging increases dramatically, as artificial UV rays provoke wrinkles much more intensely.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
To avoid becoming “burnt” skin, apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher every morning and wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Try to avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours—from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Regularly inspect your skin for any suspicious changes. If your skin is freckled or you’ve been overly sunbathed, don’t delay a visit to a dermatologist. They may recommend Retin-A or tretinoin, medications that help partially restore damaged skin.
2. Attempting to lose weight through dieting
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
It was previously believed that cyclical weight loss and gain were dangerous to health. However, modern research disproves such concerns. Two common myths have also been disproved: the first is that when dieting, you initially lose muscle, and then experience fat accumulation as you gain weight. In fact, the overall percentage of fat does not increase with alternating weight loss and gain, unless you go to extremes—sharply lose weight and then overeat and stop exercising. The second myth was that each new wave of weight gain worsens metabolism and increases the tendency toward obesity. Scientists have not yet found evidence of this.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
Since your eating habits cannot be changed, try to avoid sudden weight fluctuations. If you have a weight loss goal, set a realistic timeframe: for example, lose 7 kg in 3-4 months, not 30 days. Drastic restrictions and too-rapid success can lead to stress and impair the immune system. Incidentally, even moderate fat loss—about 10% of your body weight—has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the health of overweight people. Aim for balanced weight loss!
3. Casual Sex
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
It all depends on how well you protected yourself and how many partners you’ve had. Despite using condoms, remember: they do not provide 100% protection against all sexually transmitted infections. There’s a strong link between the number of sexual partners and the risk of contracting them. You can only fully protect yourself through mutually exclusive monogamy. Some diseases manifest quickly, while others—for example, chlamydia or genital herpes—may be asymptomatic and raise no suspicion. You can also be a carrier of HPV (human papillomavirus), the most common sexually transmitted disease, or hepatitis B and C without even realizing it. If left untreated, such infections can cause serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, risk of ectopic pregnancy, and impacts on fetal development. Some HPV strains are also associated with cervical cancer.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
First and foremost, stop douching—this hygiene procedure can drive the infection internally. If you are sexually active, get vaccinated against hepatitis B and always use condoms. Even if you have a small number of partners, have annual vaginal smears to detect cervical cancer early. Ask your doctor about extensive testing to rule out sexually transmitted diseases.
4. Alcohol Abuse
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Everything depends on the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. Women are more vulnerable to the destructive effects of alcohol than men. Each episode of alcohol abuse seriously damages the liver, kidneys, and brain. Scarring of the liver leads to cirrhosis, which can only be treated with a transplant. Brain cells are gradually destroyed by toxic exposure. Furthermore, when intoxicated, the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections increases significantly, as contraception is often forgotten. People who abuse alcohol are especially susceptible to hepatitis C.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
If you haven’t yet given up alcohol, do so as soon as possible. If you encounter difficulties, consult a specialist. Remember: you can break this addiction! Don’t allow alcohol dependence to develop, with its symptoms—tremors, insomnia, and liver pain. Be moderate: for women, the recommended daily intake is no more than one serving of alcohol—approximately 50 grams of spirits, a mug of beer, or a glass of light red wine.
5. Smoking
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Whether you were a casual smoker or a regular pack-a-day smoker, you put yourself at risk for cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic emphysema. According to statistics, about half of female smokers suffer from these serious conditions. Quitting smoking is the main way to avoid these problems. A large study of 117,000 nurses found that smokers were 2.5 times more likely to have heart attacks than their non-smoking colleagues. Meanwhile, for those who quit, the risk of the disease dropped to virtually zero after a few years.
HOW TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION
If you still smoke, we strongly recommend quitting. After just 15 years of abstinence, your risk of lung cancer will drop to levels close to that of nonsmokers. However, the damage done to your health cannot be completely reversed. This means your lungs will never regain the functionality they would have had if you had never smoked. After quitting, support your body: to reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, include more antioxidant-rich foods in your diet and exercise regularly. If you are at high risk for lung cancer, be sure to consult your doctor about a spiral CT scan. This examination, which combines computer technology and X-rays, helps detect tumors at the earliest stages.
6. Have you experimented with marijuana?
WHAT CAN THIS MEAN?
Smoking marijuana damages the lungs just like smoking cigarettes. Furthermore, frequent use of this drug increases the risk of brain and laryngeal cancer by almost threefold. Research shows that the risk of heart attack increases significantly within an hour of smoking marijuana, especially in those with existing heart or vascular problems. Cocaine use can also trigger a heart attack: large doses of this substance constrict blood flow to the brain and heart, which in some cases even leads to stroke. Regarding psychoactive substances such as hallucinogenic mushrooms or LSD, long-term use is known to cause serious damage. They can cause schizophrenia, especially in people with a hereditary predisposition to mental illness. Ecstasy, popular among young people, causes irreversible damage to the brain by depleting serotonin, leading to depression, anxiety, and aggression.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
When visiting a doctor, be sure to be open about your past drug use. Being open will allow the specialist to more accurately interpret your symptoms, including rapid heart rate, sudden mood swings, or deep depression, and determine the underlying cause. If you still occasionally use illegal substances, carefully reread the recommendations in the “Have you experimented with marijuana” section and consider the need to change your lifestyle.
7. You weren’t active in sports.
WHAT CAN THIS MEAN?
Spending childhood and adolescence inactive, lying on the couch, can lead to significant weight gain and increase the risk of developing many diseases. It has been scientifically proven that physically active children are less likely to become obese. Furthermore, excess weight in childhood rarely goes away on its own and often persists into adulthood. Women who lead an active lifestyle from an early age have a reduced risk of breast cancer both before and after menopause. The exact cause of this phenomenon is still unclear, but it is believed that regular exercise from childhood helps reduce levels of the hormone estrogen, an excess of which is often associated with breast cancer. It’s also worth noting that women who exercise regularly have strong bones and are significantly less likely to suffer fractures than their sedentary peers.
HOW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION
If you’ve previously avoided exercise, don’t worry—it’s never too late to start changing your habits and paying attention to your health. Do morning exercises or join a gym after work—you’ll soon notice a reduction in your risk of various diseases. Regular exercise can help relieve many ailments and improve the health of your heart, blood vessels, and lungs. You’ll forget about hypertension, stomach and chest pain, lose weight, and strengthen your muscles and bones. The main thing is to keep exercising once you start, otherwise the disease will return with the same intensity or even greater force.
