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People Online Share 56 Ordinary Things That Are In Fact Much More Dangerous Than One Could Imagine
Most of us have bad habits. Some sit on their sofas and scroll for too long; others cope with stress in unhealthy ways, like smoking or eating too much. The good thing is that we're all in this together – show me a person who doesn't have a bad habit or two!
In fact, 36% of Americans report having at least one unhealthy behavior, while 23.9% report having two. The most common ones are smoking, physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, and excessive drinking, but there are many more that might do us significant harm in the long run.
Take hand washing, for example: many medical professionals say that it could save us from many health concerns if done more often and diligently. This and many more were brought up by healthcare workers in three Reddit threads: one from u/setealemtresspasser, another from u/bishinishii, and the third one from u/Glass_Extension_9032. We collected the most common ones and present them to our health-conscious Pandas down below!
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#1
I work in the ER. Actually follow up with your doctors: If I tell you to see someone, you need to do that. The reason your condition gets worse is that you don't know really anything about it, so you can't tell when you need intervention or not. That's what your doctors are for, and that's why I tell you to see them even if you feel fine now.
UnclePanda 9 hours ago
I managed to reverse a concerning test result on a subsequent visit. The Doc asked how. "I did what you told me to do." He sat there, looking stunned. "Because somebody did what you told them to?" "Yeah."
RELATED:
#2
Take breaks from technology, for mental health. Limit social media use.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 16 hours ago
I do this, I break away from all technology and just sit and chill watching YouTube videos.
#3
When you are prescribed antibiotics, take them as prescribed and don’t keep some extra so you can “use them next time you’re sick”.
Also, if you are told to follow up on something, you should probably follow up on it ... we don’t say to come back for no reason.
#4
As someone who works an ambulance, know your medical conditions and medications. The amount of times I pick up people with a ziploc full of mixed pills or conditions they can't remember is astounding. A very real conversation I had this month:
"You have any medical conditions?"
"No"
"Take any medications?"
"Yeah, insulin."
GET IT TOGETHER.
UnclePanda 9 hours ago
A nearby police chief proudly announced a new prescription d**g drop box and said, "Just put them all in a baggie and come on down!" I knew the man professionally, so I sent an email, "Did you really just tell people to put controlled substances in a baggie and drive around town?" The next day, the news clarified: "Bring your meds in the prescription bottles, you can dump them out here and then take the bottles home." Much later, he gave me a wink for my efforts.
#5
Everyone should be fighting for reform and Medicare for all.
#6
Not necessarily something most people don’t do, but wear your seatbelt! Seen too many people who just casually drive without it cause they’re only going for a minute, but anything can happen. it’s right there! It doesn’t hurt, it takes 5 second to put on and it can save your life.
#7
Listen to the doctors’ recommendations, not the politicians’.
#8
Unhealthy things the general public tend to underestimate:
* Sleep deprivation
* Lack of hydration
* Sedentary lifestyle.
#9
In addition to what has already been posted:
1. Watch the amount of salt you eat
2. Sugar is not your friend, make those things a treat, not a daily habit.
3. If you’re diagnosed with a chronic problem, Congestive heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure, etc... we take a lot of time to teach you how to take care of yourself. Please, follow the instructions. If you don’t understand please say so, so we can keep working with you. Do these things so you’re not repeatedly readmitted to the hospital; because this will continue to happen until one day when you are wheeled out by the funeral home.
4. Vaccinate
5. Learn CPR.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 16 hours ago
Sugar can be considered a d**g and a lot of people would like it labelled as such.
#10
Dont stick objects in places you shouldn't and/or need help getting removed from.
Daisydaisy 12 hours ago
We hear about this so often that I begin to wonder: am I the only person who has never once felt the slightest inclination to stick anything up my bot-tom?
#11
Not me. My sister is a registered nurse and she would always remind me of three things because she thinks these things are overlooked:
(1) drink enough water
(2) use sunblock
(3) always wash hands before eating.
#13
I’m a surgical physician associate (PA). Don’t let your abdominal pain go on for a week before you seek medical attention. Operating on a gallbladder that’s been infected for a week, for example, is astronomically more challenging than if you had come in when it started. It also puts you at higher risk for intraoperative complications.
Chocolate llama 14 hours ago
yeah, but as a woman you're quite likely to spend a whole week hearing about how and why it is just your period
#14
I'm SHOCKED how many people call us b/c their parents are on their third/fourth day 2/3 weeks of a symptom. After a certain age you shouldn't just let something 'run it's course'. Call. Your. Doctor.
Also. It's always shingles. Always.
#15
Medical dietetics student over here... here’s some nutrition facts for ya.
1. watch out for added sugars, a lot of nutrition labels are starting to put that underneath the carbohydrates. added sugars = refined sugars
2. trans-fat are basically illegal to have in most products, BUT they still show up in fried foods like fries, so limit those
3. sedentary lifestyle + obesity is a major risk factor for developing chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease)
4. a healthy diet includes VARIETY!! eat a variety of whole grains, nuts, beans, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
Jan Rosier 15 hours ago
A part from the added fat, fries have one health advantage. They retain the most vitamin C due to the crust forming quickly and nothing seeping through, as opposed to a boiled potatoe... AND they're good for your mental health as well, off course. (59 yo Belgian, obviously)
#16
ER stands for Emergency Room. If you ever say "I'm going to wait to go to the ER unti..." Then you don't belong in the ER, ya lepton!
Multa Nocte 15 hours ago
I believe this is the first time I have seen "lepton" used as an insult.
#17
Brushing your teeth is only half the job. Flossing removes food particles that are stuck between tooth and your gum. If left too long they break down and become acidic, slowly eroding away at your enamel.
Also, mouth washing after vomiting will exacerbate the damage to your teeth from the stomach acids. Rinse your mouth with warm water and bi-card soda to prevent any further damage!
Daisydaisy 12 hours ago
Did you mean to say "exacerbate"? If so, very confusing: is it good or bad to rinse out your mouth after vomiting?
#18
They should be involved in some kind of exercise program that they can tolerate, and will participate in. Make it fun, like walking with your favorite podcast. You don’t need to break records – just move your body.
I tell people that if exercise was a pill, everyone would be on it.
#19
Being aware that humans are MORTAL. Making your 90 year old meemaw a full code (that means yes to CPR, intubation, pressors) is just downright cruel. She will inevitably die, but she will die slowly and painfully as I crack her ribs and shove large bore IVs into her arm.
Seriously guys, anyone 85+ should have a DNR. Just because we can maybe get a heartbeat back doesn't mean we should. These geriatric codes often lead to nothing, or meemaw survives just another few months only to rot in a hospital bed.
#20
So I can only speak from the ER perspective, but I have a few. More advice in general, less health tips.
1) If I tell you to follow-up with someone, do it. People will say things like, “Well I called them, they didn’t pick up. *you called them at 4am on a Saturday and didn’t leave a message*
2) If you comment that you don’t have a primary care doctor, dentist, etc, and I give you a list of ones that take your insurance, or lack there of, you better have called them if I see you again in the ER. I make note of that stuff in the chart, so I’ll remember.
3) When I tell you that the massive amount of leaf you smoke is the reason for your constant vomiting, believe me. I’m not lying to you - half of the employees in the ER smoke it, I don’t care. This isn’t a judgement thing.
4) Max out the dose of the over the counter pain meds before you say they don’t work. You mean that 200 mg of ibuprofen you took yesterday didn’t fix your sprained ankle?
Huddo's sister 16 hours ago
But make sure you actually do go to the doctor if you reached the max dose and still have pain. Many people just keep taking pain meds for weeks, which can really affect your stomach and liver etc, as well as not treating the actual cause of the problem.
#21
While not a doctor or nurse, I was NCOIC of infection control when I was in the USAF. Wash your hands! Thumbs, top of the hands, all if it. This prevents cross contamination. Squirting purell doesnt cut it. That 'k***s 99 99%" is only in sterile lab conditions.
#22
Hypertension is the silent k***r.
it plays the long game and will mess you up later on.
get it under control and keep it under control. check it at home/med store/at the doctors.
#23
Brushing your teeth affects way more than you know. After a heart surgery my uncle was told by the surgeon to keep his teeth clean.
#24
Have an advanced directive. And encourage your elderly relatives to have one too. Way fewer people would want to be a full code if you saw us doing cpr on your 90 year old grandma.
#25
Fiber. Especially the gooey kind from oatmeal, chia, okra, etc. Helps lower cholesterol in multiple ways. Plus you’ll poo more easily.
#28
"If it gets worse come back and speak to us"
Sometimes a condition takes a little bit to develop recognisable symptoms. So even though you know somethings wrong it might just solve its or it could get worse. So when a doctor says "come back and see us if something changes" they actually do want you to.
#29
Wash. Your. Hands. Hand sanitizer doesn’t count in most cases. Norovirus is going to hit hard and alcohol based disinfectant doesn’t stop it. Soap and water 20 seconds.
Cosmos in your eyes 6 hours ago
We have a rule in our house. Every time you walk in through the door your wash your hands. I swear it's the main reason our family, including our kids who go to public schools, don't get sick often.
#30
1. Seeing family and friends often. Relationships are so important for mental health and is sometimes over looked when life gets busy and stressful.
2. Most disease and illnesses are lifestyle related - not eating well, drinking too much alcohol, living a sedentary lifestyle, not sleeping, stressing too much, etc.
Stardust she/her 11 hours ago
My family stresses me out so bad that it’s taken a toll on my body so I’d rather avoid them if I want to reach 40
#31
If you can't sleep at night try lowering your room temperature between 60-68 degrees F. Just try it, trust me.
#32
To men
Go see a doctor if someone tells you to, or if something seems odd about your body.
Men are notorious for not seeing us until it's too far along.
#34
Sleep enough, eat good. 2 basic things that definitely most people don't follow.
#35
Washing hands after going to the bathroom. This includes nurses and doctors who are at work. Source: self, with over seven years at a research hospital. I do wash my _own_ hands every time, mind you.
(I’m interpreting “nobody” in what I assume is intended sense of “far fewer than it should be.”).
RamiRudolph 12 hours ago
What? You're telling me that after taking a bit fat dump and scraping it out with my fingers, I have to wash my hands? Since when?! What is this nonsense???
#36
Not a doctor/nurse, but I have noticed that a lot of people think one can "stock up" on sleep and then "spend" it till it is gone and then repeat the cycle.
#37
Preventative health exams. Screening procedures as soon as you’re eligible (mammogram, colonoscopy, etc.). Prioritize quality sleep. Drink water. Move your body in some way each day, and always stretch! Practice gratitude. Make time for leisure! We all need things that are meaningful and purposeful in our lives.
#39
Consider wearing a mask if you take public transit
Don't come into work if you're sick and contagious....
Drink more water
Tell family and friends you love/appreciate them. Life is short and can change so drastically. Working on units and departments with patients passing away always does this thing to me. Makes me realize I'm blessed my family members are alive.
Don't be too serious. Learn to breath and relax. Even if you work in a stressful environment. Find a quiet spot at work to take your break. That half hour of silence helps.
Wash your hands. There are doors at work I can totally see 10 - 15 people per day touching the knobs. Or use the hand sani at least
Be kind to the worker making your coffee/breakfast in the morning or in the day. They're stressed and sometimes overwhelmed serving the crowds of people in this huge hospital.
Learn to accept yourself. Working in the medical field has a way of causing one to compare yourself to your coworkers if you let it. Like who seems more successful, age, salary, whether they are in a better spot in life, who has more connections, etc.. I remember listening to a coworker lament about their age and how they're only just now starting their career. They are not even that old. We do it to ourselves. Including me.
Laugh
Think of things to be thankful for
Adding more: Try to come to work early. I like to arrive 30 - 40 minutes before my shift starts. Not having to rush gives me less stress. I get that people sleep in or traffic is very bad but when you can control it, earlier is kind of better. .
#40
Breathe. Take a few deep breaths, on purpose, here and there. Pause for a sec. Belly breaths (to engage the diaphragm). As long as you breathe, you are alive. Alive is good.
Be kind to yourself, especially during hard times. The amount of self sabotage, self criticism, and other similarly destructive thoughts, language, and behaviour aimed at the self does nothing but poison your health and wellbeing.
Hug a tree, pet a dog, plant a flower, and generally touch or engage with nature and living beings (especially if they don’t judge) and marvel at the simple, beautiful things. This helps reduce daily stress and put some things into perspective.
The placebo effect is real. If you believe something is helpful, then it will be helpful, even a little bit.
#41
I’m in billing, but a lot of people don’t realize you can apply for financial aid for medical bills, especially from major hospitals. They make the majority of their money from insurance companies so most hospitals have funding set aside for “charity” they just don’t really tell you. I had a free hysterectomy at Vanderbilt. After you get a bill you can call the billing department and ask how to apply for financial aid. I had to send some tax returns to prove I’m broke af, it’s stupid easy if you qualify. If you have a hospital bill laying around call on Monday.
#42
Make sure you get enough high quality sleep to meet your needs. Exercise, even a little. Stop eating garbage. Stop drinking so much alcohol. Pay attention when your health care provider says you are at risk for something and follow their recommendations. Drive safely and unimpaired/undistracted.
#43
Getting a colonoscopy starting at age 45. I say this as a nurse and a colorectal cancer survivor (although I was diagnosed at 42).
Zig Zag Wanderer 17 hours ago (edited)
You don't need a colonoscopy. We get free pôop sample tests in Australia. It's very effective.
#44
Mammograms.
Child of the Stars 16 hours ago
And self-exams. I had a friend who caught her stage 1 breast cancer because she did her self-exams.
#45
Nurse, not a Dr.
Stop shoving your face full of sugar.
Metabolic syndrome is one of the leading, and most avoidable cause of death out there.
#46
Prevention is better than cure. Do healthy choices now so you don’t suffer later.
Genes play a big role. Make sure you’re well aware of the diseases in your family.
#49
Why has no one even mentioned nutrition? Every single person should know a fair amount of nutrition. Almost everything people are taught about it is wrong.
Zig Zag Wanderer 17 hours ago (edited)
I don't think it all wrong. Possibly the 'war on fat' was very foolish, but proper vegetables and fruits, and a bit of carbs and protein is generally what we're recommended. That seems pretty sensible, when a few 'treats' are added. We generally avoid desrts unless eating in nice restaurants.
#50
According to my kid’s pediatrician, getting more Iron and Vitamin D.
Zig Zag Wanderer 17 hours ago
Ah. Vitamin D. Because we've been told to be terrified of sunlight! Rickets is making a return, it's so bad. Get sunlight everyday, folks! 20 minutes at least.
#51
Nothing.
There is nothing that is universally applicable to EVERYONE. Health needs differ based on individual circumstances and even things that are great for the majority of the population have exceptions where people shouldn’t do them.
People need to stop thinking there is a such thing as universal answers to anything. Especially something as complex and individualized as overall health.
#52
Agree with what others are saying about eating nutritious foods and moving your body. I would also add 1) brush and floss your teeth. And 2) take care of your mental health - invest in your community and the people around you, stop doomscrolling and interact with others face to face as much as possible.
#53
Cardio Cardio Cardio! Even something as minor as walking around your house/apartment for like 15 minutes a day can do SO much, especially if you're mostly sitting down for your job most of the day. It all adds up in the end!
#54
Don't ignore the blood on the toilet paper. If it keeps happening every day you have cancer in your b*m.
Norfolk and good 10 hours ago
Or you have haemorrhoids, been wiping yourself too roughly, have crohn's disease, been engaging in b*m fun etc. There's lots of reasons for blood in your stool but yes, it should always be checked out.
#55
Not either but you need to change your pillow case every week otherwise you are sleeping on so much dead skin cells and it's awful for your face. :(.
#56
You’re not gonna like this one but… don’t see mid level providers (NPs, PAs, etc). They make a LOT of medical errors, trust me. It’s the product of being asked to do the same as docs do but with literally tens of thousands of hours less training.
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