8 Habits That Can Hurt Your Brain

The brain is a miraculous organ with a capacity beyond our imagination. Although the brain is quite powerful, it is very vulnerable. Here are the bad habits we need to avoid to maintain brain clarity.

We all know that lack of sleep is not good for our health, but we still do it and think that sometimes it will be okay, but the consequences of sleep deprivation are huge. Sleep deprivation is thought to be a cause of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
It is best to create a regular bedtime routine. If you have trouble sleeping, or other sleep problems, avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and electronic devices at night, and do soothing activities before bedtime. Sleep to sleep better.

Every person has connections with the community. People who have only a few close friends feel happier and more productive, and they are also less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's disease. If you feel lonely, call your friends, participate in new activities with lots of people like dancing, playing tennis, badminton,...

For people who maintain a regular diet of burgers, fries and soft drinks, the parts of the brain involved in learning, memory and mental health are less than people with a healthy diet.
On the contrary, berries, whole grains, nuts and green leafy vegetables have the effect of preserving brain function and slowing intellectual decline.

Using headphones at maximum volume can permanently damage your hearing. In addition to hearing loss, the condition has also been linked to brain problems, such as Alzheimer's disease and loss of brain tissue. This may be because your brain has to work too hard to understand what is being said around and it cannot store what you have heard into memory. So, turn the volume down, no louder than 60% of the device's maximum volume, and try not to listen for long periods of time.

If your body does not get regular exercise, you will be more likely to develop dementia, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. All of which may be related to Alzheimer's disease.
You don't have to be physically active, just walking for half an hour a day will bring good health effects. Exercise affects the brain in different ways. Exercise increases your heart rate, bringing more oxygen to your brain. Active movement supports the release of hormones, providing an excellent environment for the growth of brain cells. Exercise also promotes brain plasticity by stimulating the growth of new connections between cells in many important cortical regions of the brain. Research from UCLA - University of California at Los Angeles demonstrates that exercise increases growth factors in the brain, making it easier for the brain to develop new nerve cell connections.

A very scary consequence is that smoking can shrink the brain, reduce memory and double the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's. Smoking also causes heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure.
Smoking biological factors related to how the brain responds to nicotine. When a person smokes, nicotine reaches the brain within about ten seconds. At first, nicotine improves mood and concentration, reduces anger and stress, relaxes muscles, and reduces cravings. But regular nicotine exposure leads to changes in the brain.

If the body consumes too much of even the right foods, the brain may have trouble building strong networks of connections that help you think and remember. Overeating over a long period of time increases the risk of being overweight, which in turn increases the risk of dangerous diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, all of which are linked to brain problems and diseases. Alzheimer's.
A recent study suggests that high calorie intake over time may actually increase the odds of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) into seniors
Research presented earlier this year at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, showed that consuming between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day can double the risk of MCI in people 70 years of age and older. The study involved more than 1,200 men and women, ages 70 to 89, who had no signs of dementia at the start of the study.
Dr Gad Marshall, a behavioral neuroscientist at Harvard, Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard University in Boston, explains: "This study implies that in the later stages of life, when you already have a lot of risk of cognitive decline, mainly due to Alzheimer's disease, increased calorie intake is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline."

When you are not exposed to natural light long enough, the risk of depression also increases and causes the brain to slow down. Studies also show that sunlight helps the brain work more efficiently. Sunlight and darkness trigger the release of hormones in your brain. Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the release of a hormone called serotonin in the brain. At night, darkness triggers the brain to make another hormone called melatonin. This hormone has the effect of making people feel sleepy.
Reduced sun exposure, which causes a decrease in serotonin levels, which can lead to major seasonal depression. The light-generating effects of serotonin are triggered by sunlight passing through the eyes. Sunlight signals special areas in the retina that trigger the release of serotonin. Therefore, many patients are noted to be more likely to experience this type of depression in the winter, when the days are shorter.
So to help keep your mind awake and minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, Alzheimer's... you should actively maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has developed a general health checkup package for all subjects, ages and genders. The overall health check will help the doctor understand the current health status, in order to give appropriate advice on diet, sleep, rest, activity and medication if necessary. This helps to reduce the risk of many common diseases.

Reference source: webmd.com - mentalhealth.org.uk - health.harvard.edu