A human brain is made up of approximately 86 billion neurons (nerve cells) that communicate in trillions of connections (synapses). This complex and fascinating organ in our body controls our thoughts, memory, speech, the movement of our arms and legs, and the functions of many organs in our body. However, we tend to take for granted the gift of being able to use the brain smoothly. It’s not until we start to experience brain disorders that we stop and ask ourselves, “What could I have done to avoid this problem?”
There are many ways that we can do to help keep our brains healthy. But there are habits that we do almost every single day that we don’t realize are causing damage to our brains. Read on to learn about the 7 habits you might wish to change to help your brain to stay healthier if possible.
- Covering your head during sleep
This isn’t a joke. Covering your head while sleeping can cause brain damage. Some studies indicate up to 23% of people who sleep with their heads under the covers develop dementia.
This is due to the lack of oxygen to the brain and rebreathing of the carbon dioxide that you breathe out.
- Chronic lack of sleep
Studies have shown that chronic lack of sleep increases the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Poor sleep could affect the brain in another way – during sleep, while your body rests, your brain is busy processing information from the day and forming memory. If you’re sleep-deprived, your ability to learn and retain new information may be impaired.
- Dehydration
80% of the brain is water. Without enough water, it shrinks in volume and the brain cells cannot function properly, leading to cognitive problems.
- Chronic Stress
A bit of stress is a normal part of our daily lives, which can even be good for us. Overcoming stressful events can make us more resilient. But chronic stress has a huge impact on our brains. While the overall volume of the brain tends to remain the same, it has been found that chronic stress in otherwise healthy individuals can cause areas of the brain associated with emotions, metabolism, and memory to shrink.
- Lack of mental stimulation
Studies show that mental decline is not caused by aging but by a lack of stimulation to the mind. Mental stimulation increases the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain.
Researchers have found that people who have more stimulating jobs have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia later in life.
- Lack of Exercise
Research shows that people who don’t exercise much are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease and sedentary behavior is linked to thinning in the region of the brain that is critical for memory formation.
- Smoking
Smoking harms nearly every organ of our body and is likely to reduce brain volume and damage blood vessels. People who smoke are twice likely to develop dementia.
Final Word
These are just a few of the habits that can hurt your brain. If you want to keep your brain healthy for as long as possible, make sure you avoid these habits as much as possible.