List: 7 worst female health habits

Some everyday habits may be compromising your well-being without you knowing it.

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, much of what we do in our day often goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, some of our activities and habits can have a profound impact on our health in the long run, especially if we don’t keep them in check.

But do not worry, Ms T is here to help you! Check out our list of top 7 worst female habits and understand why they might be taking a toll on you.

1. Sleeping beauty:

Admit it or not, almost all of us have succumbed to the temptation of hitting the sack with our post-party makeup on. Unfortunately, while you may go to bed looking like a princess, the makeup — along with the dirt and natural oils that germinate within the skin — creates clogged pores, spots, irritable skin and aging. Sleeping with eye makeup is particularly harmful as it can cause redness, itchy eyes and even infections. We know you are tired, we know all you want to do is jump into those comfy pyjamas and hit the sack but be sure to do it with a washed face, clear of all external impurities.

2. Binge eating:

No matter what romantic comedies tell you, overdosing on chocolate and ice cream is never, the solution for depression. Binge eating when upset may elevate your spirits temporarily but it will also expand your waistline permanently. Next time you are upset and seeking solace in comfort food, hit the gym to vent out your negative energy. But please, do not eat your way out of depression. Nothing is worth a bulging tummy or malnutrition.

3. High heels, low health:

Bad news for all fashionistas out there: high heels are bad for you. While they may be necessary to complete your outfit for a wedding or party, they can affect your posture adversely, add pressure on the joints and eventually lead to arthritis, hammer toes, leg and back aches and other injuries. Similarly, completely flat-heeled shoes are hard on the lower abdomen. To minimise damage, invest in a pair of insoles to ease the pressure on the joints and limit your heels to 1.5 inches at the maximum, especially if you wear them daily. Most importantly, make sure your shoes are comfortable and easy to walk in. If you’re not walking right, you’re not looking right!

4. Leave the lenses:

According to New York-based ophthalmologist Robert Cykiert, 95 per cent of all eye infections occur due to sleeping with contact lenses. Failure to take your lenses off increases the chance of contracting an infection from 30 to almost 100 per cent. You wouldn’t want to wake up with swollen red eyes now, do you?



5. Sleepless & careless:

Women need more sleep than men — a fact proven by scientific research. They are also twice as likely to sacrifice their sleep to get work done — another fact proven by scientific research. Unfortunately, many of us don’t take our sleep seriously enough: lack of sufficient sleep makes us look and feel our worst. It can lead to low productivity, fatigue, flu, absent mindedness, additional calories and ultimately, heart diseases. Therefore, it is imperative — especially for working women — to rest for at least seven hours daily for effective functioning of the mind and body.

6. Beasts of burden:

No matter how long you are stepping outdoors for, you do not need to stuff each and every one of your possessions into your handbag. Why? Because your body cannot handle it. With so much makeup and electronic gadgets that we now rely on, majority of women are carrying unnecessarily heavy handbags on their shoulders every day. While you may not feel the results right now, lugging around heavy bags on a long-term basis can perpetrate serious problems in your back, neck and shoulders. Not to mention, heavy backpacks tend to make us bend forward which takes a toll on our posture as well. So clear out your purse for all non-essential items or switch to a smaller bag. Because these heavy beasts of burden will not do you much good.

7. Why aren’t your pretty?

Wanting to look good and feel pretty is no crime, but women generally tend to obsess about their looks more than men. It is no breaking news that physical insecurity affects mental health. A more pertinent issue is what women do in order to overcome their insecurities, such as extreme diets, surgery and weight-loss pills, etc. None of these are good for the human body and can bring about eating disorders like bulimia. Hence, we urge all ladies across the world to love themselves for who they are, accept their faults as natural and endearing and declare their self-love openly. This is what makes a strong, confident woman.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 23^rd, 2014.