Being young is not an excuse to be neglectful towards your health. In fact, your young adult years should be seen as an opportunity to pave a path to a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, too many people in their young adult years don’t see the importance of taking care of their health in youth, mainly because of the fact that the effects of their bad lifestyle habits will not be palpable until they get older.
Don’t let your current lifestyle compromise your future. While you are still young and healthy, here are some of the worst habits that you need to break before they come back to bite you:
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Not going to the doctor
Men are less likely to go to the doctor than women; a behavior that is caused by many psychological and social factors. As a result, men have a higher risk of suffering or dying from a preventable or manageable illness than women, which is one of the reasons why women have a longer life expectancy than men.
If you are guilty of this habit, it’s time to stop putting your health at risk. Whether you need urgent care services, dental care services, or a simple check-up, go to your healthcare providers immediately, and treat each symptom you feel with adequate seriousness.
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Drinking like there’s no tomorrow
Testing your alcohol tolerance every weekend is not going to do your body any favors, and do you really want to keep dealing with hangovers every Sunday morning?
Binge drinking is a dangerous habit that has, unfortunately, become normalized among young people—especially among young men. The health effects of excessive alcohol consumption make up a very long list, which includes liver disease, vitamin deficiency, high blood pressure, and mental health problems, among many others.
If you don’t want your body to turn on you in the future, moderate your alcohol consumption. The recommended intake for men is a maximum of two drinks per day. But if you only drink on the weekends, limit your alcohol consumption to only twice the recommended amount.
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Smoking
Whether you are a social smoker or a regular smoker, smoking is bad. It may provide stress-reducing benefits, but the mental effect is short-lived and comes at the cost of your health.
Smoking cessation lowers your risk of lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. More than that, your lung function will improve, you will feel more energetic, and your sense of smell and taste will heighten. Not to mention the fact that your breath, clothes, and hair won’t smell of tobacco anymore.
If you are a social smoker, say no the next time someone offers you a cigarette at an event. If you are a regular smoker, prepare a strategy to overcome your addiction. Quitting smoking is harder for people who have smoked for a long time, so if you were a long-time smoker, you may want to enlist the help of other people, particularly your doctor.
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Staying up all night playing video games
With the kind of game technology that we have today, it’s no wonder why a lot of people are enamored with video games—especially when it comes to men.
There is nothing wrong with playing video games, but if they get in the way of your sleep, then it becomes a problem. By staying up all night playing video games, you are not only straining your eyes excessively, but you are also making it harder for your body to recover since it doesn’t get enough sleep. That said, try to limit your gaming to a reasonable time only. If you tend to get carried away, set an alarm to remind you that it’s time to get off the game and get some rest.
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Eating all the wrong things
As a young person, you probably still feel invincible—and that’s perfectly normal. While we are young, we don’t really have to think much about what food can do to our health. If you eat the greasiest burger today, you don’t have to worry about your blood pressure spiking up tomorrow—which is how it is for most older people.
However, this level of health doesn’t last forever. While you are still young, build a diet that consists more of healthy, nutrient-rich foods, instead of food that doesn’t do much good for your health.
It’s never too early to start building a healthy lifestyle. Youth and good health don’t last forever—so while you are enjoying your young adult years, don’t forget to prepare for the future and avoid the bad habits that can ruin your body tomorrow.
