All of our good habits will eventually cross over the line into being harmful.
However, these gross and seemingly innocuous behaviours can have adverse knock-on effect.
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According to a Dutch survey of 200 healthcare professionals, picking your nose can triple your chances of getting coronavirus.
The researchers found that 17 percent of nose pickers had developed Covid compared with just 5,9 percent of those who did not.
The European Journal of Social Psychology suggests that it can take 18-254 days to break a habit.
Before you throw yours out, consider that certain habits may be good for your overall health.
Lucy Gornall reveals the “bad” behaviours you should do – or ditch.
Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy explains the reasons why.
THE GOOD
POTTY MOUTH The act of swearing may help to relieve stress, and even dull physical pain.
Dr Lee says: “Funnily enough, psychologists believe that swearing is good for us.
“It’s a way of releasing bottled-up emotion. It helps stop us from getting pent up with rage.”
Then swear it off!
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CHOWED UP “Chewing on gum for 20 minutes after meals has been proven to reduce dental plaque, strengthen tooth enamel and lower gum inflammation,” says Dr Lee.
What causes dry mouth? Also, chewing gum encourages more saliva to be produced.
Make sure you use sugar-free gum to protect your tooth enamel.
SQUEAKY CLEAN: Unless you are doing regular and very sweaty workouts, you probably don’t need to shower more than once every two to three days.
“Each time we shower, we are stripping the natural oils which form the protective skin barrier,” says Dr Lee.
“The skin can feel tight, dry and itchy, and allergens can more easily enter outer skin layers, causing further skin irritation and allergic reactions.
“When you shampoo your hair too often, it dries out, causing hair to break off.
“The scalp can become dry and itchy and hair can become dull and frizzy.”
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SUB AP-PEE – L: It is not harmful to wee while in the shower, but some experts say it may weaken pelvic muscles and your bladder control.
Dr Lee says: “Urine is usually sterile, so you can’t pass on an infection unless you have one, and most people with a urinary tract infection are very symptomatic and know all about it.
“Urine does smell and, if you want to pee in the shower, you will need to give it a very good clean afterwards.”
THE BAD
Nail Bibber: Between 20 and 30 percent of people bite or gnaw their nails.
Dr Lee explains: “This can result in distortion of the nail bed and infections around it, chronic shortening of the nail and transmission of infections from hand to mouth, such as the human papillomavirus.
“It can also lead to infections such as pinworms, tapeworms, E.coli and salmonella.”
Even your gnashers and gums could become inflamed.
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WASH-OUTIf you don’t wash your hands after using the toilet, there are 200 million bacteria that can cause illness.
Dr Lee says: “Washing your hands after using the toilet reduces the number of people who develop diarrhoea and vomiting by up to 40 per cent and respiratory illnesses by up to 21 per cent.”
Her advice is to wash with soap and warm water for about 40 seconds.
HAIR TODAY Trichophagia is the scientific name for eating hair – and it is potentially life-threatening.
Dr Lee warns: “It can result in a hairball in the stomach, causing tummy pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and intestinal obstruction.”
Anaemia, B12 deficiency and liver disease are all more serious. The hairball can be removed with an operation.
BOTTLE IT How long has it been since you last washed the water bottle in your hand? Recent research shows that the average water bottle contains over 300 000 germs per centimetre.
Dr Lee says: “This is more than a sink or a toilet. And 99.9% of bacteria found on a squeeze top bottle and 98.9% on a screwstop were E.coli. This is a common cause of gastroenteritis. Your water bottle is best washed every day in the dishwasher.
“Otherwise, wash it thoroughly in hot soapy water using a bottle brush and dry with a paper towel. Don’t share your water bottle, as this is another way infections can spread.”
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RICH PICKINGSApart from Covid there are numerous reasons for you to keep your hands off your hooter. Rhinotillexomania (also known as nose-picking) is a common behavior in both children and adults.
“In one survey, 91 per cent of adults admitted to it,” reveals Dr Lee.
“If nose picking is too frequent, violent or done with sharp nails, it can cause nose bleeds and damage the nasal septum.”
This can cause respiratory infections, sinus infections, and in some cases blood clots.
COVER-UP Covering your mouth can help control the spread of germs.
Dr Lee says: “One sneeze can send as many as 100,000 organisms into the air travelling at 100mph. These include respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and adenoviruses, which cause the common cold.”
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BRUSH OFF THE RESIDUE: If you forget your toothbrush, it can be tempting to use someone else’s.
But Dr Lee warns: “Your toothbrush becomes contaminated with bacteria each time you use it. One toothbrush can hold more than 100million bacteria, including E.coli and staphylococcal bacteria, which cause skin infections.”
It is possible that someone who has the blood-borne hepatitis C virus could spread it through a toothbrush.