Your brain is the most boss of all your organs. It contains billions upon billions of cells which control absolutely everything your body does.
That said, it would be important to mention 5 habits which we unknowingly do that cause damage to our brains. These habits can cause long-term and even fatal consequences.
These habits that are bad for your brain are:
1) Chronic lack of sleep
We should always aim to have at least 7 hours of undisturbed sleep every night.
Chronic lack of sleep puts you at risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well as other neurological disorders.
Lack of sleep will also harm your memory. This is because when we sleep, mechanisms get hard at work, ridding you from toxins and other byproducts that accumulate in your brain throughout the day. A lack of sleep means that these mechanisms cannot get sufficiently activated therefore failing to kill off these harmful substances (fails to protect you). When these substances are not eliminated, they can start to accumulate in your brain and can lead to severe damage.
2) Sleeping with your head covered
Sleeping with your head underneath the covers can cause brain damage. You are likely to develop Dementia and possibly even Alzheimer’s if you are a head underneath the covers kind of person. These two conditions in most cases come as a result of lack of enough oxygen to the brain.
Also, covering your head means that you are re-breathing the air that you are breathing out which does not contain a lot of oxygen.
3.Stress
It is important to note that not all stress is bad for you. Some stress, like Acute stress is necessary, but Chronic stress makes your system produce a steroid hormone called Cortisol which streams from our system all day long. This makes it dangerous for your well-being because excess cortisol levels in your system can lead to a whole host of physical health problems such as weight gain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Chronic stress takes a toll on Adrenal glands as well, which leaves you feeling mentally drained.
Other brain related stress symptoms can include memory loss, brain fog, anxiety and worry. When stress becomes chronic, it changes your brain’s function and structure…down to the level of your DNA.
4) Dehydration
Water makes up two thirds of our bodies, hence playing a very important role in our normal bodily functions. This is why dehydration can lead to a number of issues including Migraines, constipation and even kidney stones.
Dehydration can also take a toll on your brain’s health hence affecting your mood and overall brain function. Other symptoms of dehydration include, being more prone to irritability, anxiety and fatigue.
¾ of your brain is water, and when dehydrated, your brain shrinks in volume. This shrinkage is what causes a dehydration headache. Even mild dehydration can alter your brain function, so get yourself that bottle of water and… drink up!
5) Lack of mental stimulation and physical exercise
People who live mentally stimulating lives are more likely to be free of dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s disease later on in life. In short, the more active your brain is, the better your memory is likely to be. The greater the variety of the ways in which you use your mind, the easier it is you will find remembering the stuff you keep on forgetting. To stimulate your brain, you should read more (to educate yourself), stay socially active, start taking an online class or go back to school… just basically challenge yourself to constantly do something new.
These are also some other habits that can damage your brain:
*Being a loner/spending too much time by yourself
*Eating too much junk food.
*Blasting your headphones
*Smoking
*Over-indulging in alcohol
*Overeating
*Staying in darkness for prolonged periods and not being out in the sun.
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