How Bad Is It To…
BY BETHANY HEITMAN
Sure, you’d love to make the healthiest possible choices all of the time. Unfortunately, life gets busy and sometimes those choices may not be ideal. But how do you know what shortcuts you can make—and which you need to worry about. It can be tricky, really—especially if you rely on Dr. Google to answer your biggest questions. There is just so much conflicting information out there.
We’re here to help! Below, some common health questions that JW gets asked all of the time, and how bad they actually are (which is to say, sometimes they’re not too bad at all).
Photo by Jon Tyson
I know I should be drinking more water. I even fill up a big jug every day and tote it around with me—and yet I still almost always fail to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Am I messing up my health with my low water intake?
Water is important—and you really should be trying to drink at least 8 glasses a day, if not a little more! It may help you reach your goal if you understand more fully what can happen if you aren’t properly hydrated.
First, lack of water can lead to you gaining water weight. It sounds counterintuitive, but when our bodies don’t get enough water, they hold on to the water we do have to prevent dehydration. The result: You may notice yourself starting to look a bit puffier.
Dehydration can also cause you to feel sluggish. If you are feeling like you have low-energy, you may want to skip the coffee (which can dehydrate you further) and instead, reach for a big glass of water.
It’s also very common to confuse dehydration with hunger. So, people who don’t drink enough water may find themselves reaching for more and more snacks and, as a result, may pack on some pounds. If you’re feeling peckish, try drinking a glass of water and waiting 20 minutes. If you’re still hungry, great—if not, you’ll know you just needed some water.
Beyond these things, good hydration can help your complexion, ensure that you have a better workout and even keep you more focused. So, yes, drinking plenty of water each day is important.
To help you get your H20 in, consider drinking a big glass as soon as you get up. Then, skip any other types of drinks during the day (like seltzer or iced tea) until you’ve gotten your water quota in. Still struggling? Set reminders in your phone to keep you on track. You can also add certain fruits and veggies into your diet for added hydration—for example, watermelon, cucumbers and zucchini all have high water content. Just remember, your main source of hydration should always come from drinking water.
Photo by Kajetan Sumila
I wear contacts and sometimes, after a really long day, I accidentally fall asleep with them in. When I wake up my eyes feel dry and crusty—am I doing any permanent damage?
That feeling of being so tired that you can’t even bring yourself to do something like wash your face or take out your contacts is so relatable. Even still, taking out your contacts is a must.
By sleeping with them in, you are opening yourself up to potential eye infections. Contacts in general increase your risk of eye infections, but when you sleep with them in, you aren’t giving your eyes a break each day and that risk increases further. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that sleeping with contacts increases your chance for infection by 6 to 8 times. Yikes!
So, what should you do if you accidentally dozed off with them in? Take them out as soon as you wake up and don’t pop new ones in for a full day—it’s important to give them a breather. During that time, look for signs of an eye infection (like blurred vision, discharge or redness). If you notice any of those things, contact an eye doctor immediately. If not, you can resume your contact wearing the next day.
As for avoiding falling asleep with them in going forward, think about little reminders you could set for yourself. Maybe it would help to keep your contact supplies on your nightstand rather than in the bathroom. Or you could try writing a note for yourself and sticking it on your bedroom door so you don't even enter your room at night without taking them out first. Another option: Take your contacts out as soon as you get home for the night and put on your glasses—that way it’s already done by the time you get sleepy.
Bethany Heitman, Contributor
P.S. Remember that no matter what you're going through right now, you don't have to do it alone! There are others like you in our community, where we interact on a daily basis, fight our demons, share our victories, and watch over each other as friends and accountability partners.
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