Eight Common Misconceptions About Self-Healthcare
Eight Common Misconceptions About Self-Healthcare
Why do many people find their self-healthcare efforts to be ineffective? The reason often lies in outdated beliefs and practices handed down from our ancestors. Many people still adhere to these old customs, leading to misconceptions about several crucial aspects of self-healthcare. To summarize, there are "eight main areas" where these misconceptions prevail:
Resting Only When Exhausted
Waiting until you feel tired before taking a break is a habit passed down from our ancestors. Many people still follow this practice, believing that feeling tired is a sign that they should rest. In reality, this sensation occurs when the body is already quite fatigued, and resting at this point may be too late.
Eating Only When Hungry
Many people in their daily lives don't follow regular meal times and only eat when they are hungry. Skipping breakfast is a common habit among many people, and some choose to eat only after completing tasks when they are working. Such practices can harm the stomach and weaken the body's ability to fight off illnesses. The food you consume stays in the stomach for only about 4-5 hours. Waiting until you feel hungry means the stomach has already emptied, and the stomach lining may start to self-digest, which can lead to gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Drinking Water Only When Thirsty
A lot of people only drink water when they feel thirsty, particularly young adults and busy individuals. They are unaware that thirst is a signal that the body is already dehydrated, and drinking water at this point may be too late. Water is more critical for metabolism in the body than food, and when dehydration occurs, it can disrupt bodily functions and even lead to diseases. Physiologists recommend that adults need approximately 250 milliliters of water every day, of which about 15,000 milliliters should be consumed. Therefore, it's a good practice to drink a glass of water even if you're not thirsty, in the morning and an hour before meals. This helps rehydrate the body, cleanse the digestive system, aids digestion, and stimulates the appetite. Research shows that people who regularly consume water have a significantly lower risk of suffering from constipation and urinary tract stones compared to those who do not drink water frequently. Moreover, staying hydrated also provides protection against serious diseases like myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, it is particularly important for the elderly, those with atherosclerosis, high blood lipids, high blood viscosity, coronary heart disease, stroke patients, as well as pregnant women, adolescents, and babies who need relatively more water to cultivate the habit of drinking water regularly.
Going to Sleep Only When Sleepy
Many people choose to sleep only when they feel drowsy, believing that fatigue is a signal that they should sleep. In fact, drowsiness is an indication of significant brain fatigue, and it shouldn't be ignored. Developing a regular sleep schedule not only helps protect the brain but also makes falling asleep easier and improves the quality of sleep, reducing the likelihood of insomnia.
Only Going to the Bathroom When Urgent
Most people only go to the restroom when they feel an urgent need, and some even hold it in. However, this is detrimental to health. Allowing waste to stay in the body for too long can lead to constipation (for bowel movements) or bladder overfilling, causing harm. It may even lead to the reabsorption of toxic substances from feces and urine, causing self-poisoning. Therefore, it is advisable to cultivate a habit of regular bowel movements, especially in the morning. Scheduled bowel movements can prevent and treat constipation and reduce the risk of colon cancer. This habit is also beneficial for hemorrhoid patients.
Seeking Medical Attention Only When Ill
Seeing a doctor when ill has become an unwritten rule for many people. However, for many diseases, relying solely on self-perception makes it difficult to detect them early. Only regular health check-ups at a hospital can help identify and treat illnesses in their early stages. In various health check-ups for the middle-aged and elderly, as well as those for young recruits, many severe illnesses have been found in individuals who believed they were healthy. These illnesses include hepatitis, tuberculosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. It's clear that seeking medical attention when not ill is of utmost importance. Young adults should have an annual check-up, while the middle-aged and elderly should aim for a check-up every six months. Key areas to check include blood pressure, electrocardiograms, chest X-rays, blood lipids, blood sugar, and hepatitis B surface antigens.
Blindly Trusting Misleading Advertisements
False and exaggerated claims in medical and healthcare product advertisements are prevalent today. People with chronic illnesses that don't improve and individuals aspiring to live longer, stay fit, or lose weight are especially susceptible to falling for these claims. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when purchasing medications, health products, and healthcare devices. Consulting a physician is the best approach, and it's important not to easily believe in advertisements that overhype the effectiveness of products with promises of miraculous cures.
Waiting Until Old Age to Exercise
Simply observing the crowds in parks, on lawns, and alongside roads during early morning exercises will reveal that most participants are middle-aged or elderly, with very few young people. Young people failing to exercise has led to severe consequences. In recent years, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, and osteoporosis have been on the rise among younger populations in China. Specifically, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among the youth has seen an alarming increase. These health issues are linked to a lack of exercise, overeating, and excessive alcohol consumption. The consequences of this trend could be dire. Young individuals should pay attention to their lifestyle and emphasize a scientific and civilized approach. This is essential for a successful career and is crucial for maintaining good health.
Why do many people find their self-healthcare efforts to be ineffective? The reason often lies in outdated beliefs and practices handed down from our ancestors. Many people still adhere to these old customs, leading to misconceptions about several crucial aspects of self-healthcare. To summarize, there are "eight main areas" where these misconceptions prevail:
Resting Only When Exhausted
Waiting until you feel tired before taking a break is a habit passed down from our ancestors. Many people still follow this practice, believing that feeling tired is a sign that they should rest. In reality, this sensation occurs when the body is already quite fatigued, and resting at this point may be too late.
Eating Only When Hungry
Many people in their daily lives don't follow regular meal times and only eat when they are hungry. Skipping breakfast is a common habit among many people, and some choose to eat only after completing tasks when they are working. Such practices can harm the stomach and weaken the body's ability to fight off illnesses. The food you consume stays in the stomach for only about 4-5 hours. Waiting until you feel hungry means the stomach has already emptied, and the stomach lining may start to self-digest, which can lead to gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Drinking Water Only When Thirsty
A lot of people only drink water when they feel thirsty, particularly young adults and busy individuals. They are unaware that thirst is a signal that the body is already dehydrated, and drinking water at this point may be too late. Water is more critical for metabolism in the body than food, and when dehydration occurs, it can disrupt bodily functions and even lead to diseases. Physiologists recommend that adults need approximately 250 milliliters of water every day, of which about 15,000 milliliters should be consumed. Therefore, it's a good practice to drink a glass of water even if you're not thirsty, in the morning and an hour before meals. This helps rehydrate the body, cleanse the digestive system, aids digestion, and stimulates the appetite. Research shows that people who regularly consume water have a significantly lower risk of suffering from constipation and urinary tract stones compared to those who do not drink water frequently. Moreover, staying hydrated also provides protection against serious diseases like myocardial infarction and stroke. Therefore, it is particularly important for the elderly, those with atherosclerosis, high blood lipids, high blood viscosity, coronary heart disease, stroke patients, as well as pregnant women, adolescents, and babies who need relatively more water to cultivate the habit of drinking water regularly.
Going to Sleep Only When Sleepy
Many people choose to sleep only when they feel drowsy, believing that fatigue is a signal that they should sleep. In fact, drowsiness is an indication of significant brain fatigue, and it shouldn't be ignored. Developing a regular sleep schedule not only helps protect the brain but also makes falling asleep easier and improves the quality of sleep, reducing the likelihood of insomnia.
Only Going to the Bathroom When Urgent
Most people only go to the restroom when they feel an urgent need, and some even hold it in. However, this is detrimental to health. Allowing waste to stay in the body for too long can lead to constipation (for bowel movements) or bladder overfilling, causing harm. It may even lead to the reabsorption of toxic substances from feces and urine, causing self-poisoning. Therefore, it is advisable to cultivate a habit of regular bowel movements, especially in the morning. Scheduled bowel movements can prevent and treat constipation and reduce the risk of colon cancer. This habit is also beneficial for hemorrhoid patients.
Seeking Medical Attention Only When Ill
Seeing a doctor when ill has become an unwritten rule for many people. However, for many diseases, relying solely on self-perception makes it difficult to detect them early. Only regular health check-ups at a hospital can help identify and treat illnesses in their early stages. In various health check-ups for the middle-aged and elderly, as well as those for young recruits, many severe illnesses have been found in individuals who believed they were healthy. These illnesses include hepatitis, tuberculosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. It's clear that seeking medical attention when not ill is of utmost importance. Young adults should have an annual check-up, while the middle-aged and elderly should aim for a check-up every six months. Key areas to check include blood pressure, electrocardiograms, chest X-rays, blood lipids, blood sugar, and hepatitis B surface antigens.
Blindly Trusting Misleading Advertisements
False and exaggerated claims in medical and healthcare product advertisements are prevalent today. People with chronic illnesses that don't improve and individuals aspiring to live longer, stay fit, or lose weight are especially susceptible to falling for these claims. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when purchasing medications, health products, and healthcare devices. Consulting a physician is the best approach, and it's important not to easily believe in advertisements that overhype the effectiveness of products with promises of miraculous cures.
Waiting Until Old Age to Exercise
Simply observing the crowds in parks, on lawns, and alongside roads during early morning exercises will reveal that most participants are middle-aged or elderly, with very few young people. Young people failing to exercise has led to severe consequences. In recent years, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, and osteoporosis have been on the rise among younger populations in China. Specifically, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among the youth has seen an alarming increase. These health issues are linked to a lack of exercise, overeating, and excessive alcohol consumption. The consequences of this trend could be dire. Young individuals should pay attention to their lifestyle and emphasize a scientific and civilized approach. This is essential for a successful career and is crucial for maintaining good health.
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