They say that you don’t kick the habit until you hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, some of these habits can cause unhealthy effects on our bodies. For one, lifestyle-related diseases are caused by unhealthy habits, which we may find challenging to get rid of. The Department of Health defined cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and some cancers as diseases formed from harmful habits or lifestyles.
Physical inactivity could lead to stroke, diabetes, other respiratory diseases, and a range of cancers.
Since the start of lockdowns and quarantine classifications, not just in the country but also around the world, we may become more exposed to habits that could lead to the diseases, as mentioned earlier. One of the four healthy lifestyle factors is exercising regularly. Because we were ordered to stay indoors for a couple of months, it affected our access to physical pursuits like going to the gym and jogging. Even though we could exercise at the confines of our homes, some of us find this challenging due to external factors that lessen our motivation to do so.
We can’t deny that it is pleasurable to be a couch potato, but this kind of sedentary lifestyle may cause diseases that could be prevented by doing the opposite. Sitting or lying down too often with little to no exercise could lead to obesity, heart diseases, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and more.
Smoking could lead to stroke, diabetes, other respiratory diseases, and a range of cancers.
Since most of our work was hampered during the pandemic, we resorted to other habits like staying up late, binge-watching, and overeating. Others developed unhealthy habits to cope with stress and anxiety, like smoking and drinking. Not smoking is one of the explicit factors of a healthy lifestyle. Smoking alone could lead to the non-communicable diseases we mentioned earlier.
Even with a stern warning from the government and medical professionals, some still resort to this unhealthy habit. About eight seconds after inhalation, nicotine is quickly absorbed by our body and runs through the bloodstream to the brain. The body then recognizes the constant presence of nicotine in our bloodstream as a part of it. Smoking cessation is undoubtedly tricky, but it is doable. However, we highly recommend you discuss with your doctor how you can effectively quit smoking.
It is different for every person, but more often than not, one would get nicotine withdrawal symptoms. You may compare it to removing a part of your body that used to be there. Naturally, your body would have to get used to not having nicotine, and contrary to what other people say, it would not hurt you; lighting another cigarette will.
An unhealthy weight and an unhealthy diet could lead to stroke, diabetes, other respiratory diseases, and a range of cancers.
We agree—eating is the best human function. When we starve, we pleasure ourselves by eating food that we crave—but is it healthy? When it comes to food, moderation is often always recommended. Too much of something is bad enough, and unfortunately, we tend to fall on this aspect, especially with the pandemic.
We love our Grab and Food Panda deliveries, but often, way too often, we abandon our inclinations to choose healthier food. Having an unhealthy diet is often paired with physical inactivity. But ever since creating boundaries between work and life became a challenging feat, we may have exposed ourselves to these unhealthy habits.
When we are physically inactive, follow an unmonitored diet, our body adjusts to this state by forming a habit. Our bodies take not of our usual routine, what food we put inside our body, and how often we eat. These are the perfect triggers for unhealthy weight. We, then, expose ourselves to diseases out of these habits.
Fight lifestyle diseases by maintaining a healthy weight, following a healthy diet, exercising daily, and avoiding smoking. COVID-19 is still causing global unrest; getting sick further is inexcusable. Choose to stay healthy, take care of your body so it would also take care of you. Talk to your doctor and ask for recommendations on how to prevent lifestyle diseases.
Full disclosure: This article only aims to remind the public of the lifestyle diseases we may be exposing ourselves to. It is based on the UN’s definition of Non-Communicable Diseases and DOH’s mandate about this classification. We encourage you to seek professional help to fully understand the impact of these diseases and what you can do to avoid them.