16 “bad” health habits you probably do every day (but really, really don’t), straight from doctors and nurses

We recently wrote a post where medical professionals revealed the daily “bad” habits that are actually ruining your health. In the comments, fellow doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers share more “bad” habits and mistakes you’re making. Here’s what they had to say:

Note: Some responses were pulled from this Reddit thread by u/Sea_Fig1387.

1. “I have worked in dental assisting for 10 years. Please floss your teeth. The dirtiest part is between your teeth. Skipping it is like taking a shower and not washing your butthole.”

—in/PrimalPineapple927

2. “Doesn’t take care of your joints. Surgical tech student here (Dad is an orthopedic surgeon). Running is great, but it can be very hard on your knees. Consider less impactful cardio, like an exercise bike or elliptical. My dad was too big to run back in the day, but his knees and hips are totally hot.”

“By all means run if you love it, but be careful how much stress you put on your joints.”

-Nathanav

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3. “Not monitoring your alcohol intake is a really bad habit that not only has psychosocial consequences, but also increases the risk of breast cancer, colorectal, mouth, and esophageal cancer. Some studies suggest that even moderate drinking increases these risks.”

– Anonymous, Illinois

4. “Ignoring the obvious weight loss thing. I’m a nurse. If you lose a bunch of weight in a short period of time without trying, go to the doctor. I’ve had to cry seeing horrible cancer tissue samples from young men. Like, he’s 37 with young kids and stage 4 cancer. That’s been a hopeful six months. We sent his wife some flowers and an alternative.”

-u/hyperfat

5. “Not checking your blood pressure and fasting glucose periodically. High blood pressure and diabetes are both common and treatable conditions.”

—in/konqueror321

6. “Too much sugar. Diabetes education education expert here. Maple syrup, honey, ‘ultraprocessed’ sugar – sugar is sugar no matter the source. Sugar is not ‘harmful’ – too much sugar of any kind can be harmful.”

— nancyr4e2d1d90c

7. “Family doctor here. Don’t include enough vegetables in your diet. (Try to split your meals into ~50% vegetables, 25% lean protein of some kind, and the last 25% can be carbs (eg, whole grains). Snacks/treats are usually fine, but everything in moderation.”

—u/ferriburger

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8. “Not using any kind of sunscreen/sun protection daily, even in winter (UV can reach you through clouds, although it’s not much) is good for skin cancer prevention, and if you care about how your skin looks.”

–u/ferriburger

9. “Not drinking enough water/fluids each day. (If your urine is yellow, you’re probably fine.)”

–u/ferriburger

10. “Lack of exercise. Find a type of exercise/physical activity you enjoy, and do it regularly. (Ideally, this would be a mix of some form of cardio along with strength training/weight-bearing exercise.)”

–u/ferriburger

“I’m in healthcare as an RN. Many of the chronic diseases we deal with are completely preventable. Also, most problems are compounded if the patient is already in poor physical shape. Exercising and eating a balanced diet can help prevent many chronic problems as you age.

One thing that stuck with me was a patient, JD, who was 50 years old. JD suffered from high blood pressure and some diabetes. He was also being treated for an ulcer on his leg. JD was sedentary and overweight among his many, many issues. JD lived a ‘do whatever’ life. Compare that to my 55+ year old Brazilian black belt at my BJJ gym. Sure, he’s nowhere near what he was in his prime, but good Lord, he sets us apart when he decides to do something serious with us. From a young age, he’s basically lived his life as an athlete, and he’s benefiting as he gets older.”

—u/UnluckyCustard8130

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11. “Don’t smoke. Cancer, stroke, heart disease, arterial disease and lung disease are all caused by smoking. If you don’t smoke, never start. If you smoke, quit today.”

—u/getridofwires

12. “Sit back, and use the backrest in your chair. Your lower back will thank you for it.”

—u/sidekickrick

13. “It takes no time to pause. Find spaces with almost zero input to allow the nervous system to calm down. The cumulative effect pays dividends in many health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep quality, mental health, etc.”

—u/outoftownMD

14. “Not going in the sun and taking vitamin D. I’ve been a GP for 20 years, and I see at least one patient a week with dangerously low vitamin D levels.”

—u/FuAsMy

15. “Caffeine doesn’t cut it. I’m a pulmonologist, which is where most sleep doctors come from. Seriously, there is a sleep deprivation/dysfunction epidemic, and a huge burden on physical and mental health. Caffeine has a six-hour half-life. Yes, you may be ‘sleepy,’ but coffee is normal in your sleep. The easiest thing that has a beneficial effect.”

—u/Random-one74

Related: Doctors Share the Scariest Things They’ve Seen Patients Say or Do

And finally…

16. “Don’t wear a hat when you go out too covers his ears. I am a dermatologist, and treating skin cancer/pre-cancer in the ear is not pleasant for the patient or the doctor.”

—u/criduchat1-

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, what other “bad” health habits do people not realize are seriously harmful? Tell us in the comments, or if you want to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.

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