8 Bad Habits That Can Cause Damage To Your Brain

drwale

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The brain is an integral part of the Central Nervous System that coordinates the functions of all other parts of the body. It is involved in numerous vital functions ranging from regulation of blood pressure and respiration to the handling of complex cognitive processes.
Furthermore, it is necessary to highlight some of the crucial functions the brain performs:


1. Generally, the cerebrum is involved in handling complex speech, visual and memory processes. The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex is the seat of forethought, intelligence and personality.
2. The cerebellum controls the motor functions of the body as well as the gait and the body's ability to maintain balance.
3. The brainstem houses the cardiac and respiratory centres that regulate and control the blood pressure and breathing respectively.

Notably, the neurons of the brain have little capacity to regenerate and recover from any insult. Hence, the following habits which pose a considerable threat to the brain should be noted and avoided as much as possible:

Smoking
It's no more news that smoking damages virtually every organ in the body. Numerous researches have established a link between cigarette smoking and thinning of the cerebral cortex. This has devastating effects on memory, thought and learning processes. Understandably, smokers have been shown to stand a higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Poor Reading Culture
Studies have shown that apart from the fact that reading stimulates high functioning areas of the brain, it also enhances connectivity between brain circuits that are responsible for reading. A research done at the French National Institute revealed that folks who do not read regularly are at 18% higher risk of suffering from dementia.

Poor Diet
A research that was featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that people who ate junk foods recorded a poor performance in cognitive tests compared to individuals who ate normal diet. This disparity was probably due to an inflammation of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for cognitive functions.

Drugs
Recreational drugs like heroin, marijuana, metamphetamine and cocaine may bring about a temporary lift in your mood (euphoria). However, in the long term, they have been shown to disrupt brain function by causing insomnia (lack of sleep), permanent mood disorders and schizophrenia.

Alcohol
While moderate consumption of alcohol has been shown to protect the heart, alcohol abuse can lead to vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency which is responsible for Beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome, a disorder of the brain characterized by memory impairment, unsteady gait, confusion and visual disturbances. If left untreated, it can progress to coma and death.

Exposure to Air Pollution
A research conducted at Boston University showed that air pollution had a significant impact on the cognitive ability of children. They found that children exposed to high levels of black carbon performed less in memory and verbal tests. Similarly, at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, researchers discovered that children that were exposed to high levels of air pollutants in utero (while in the mother's womb) stood a higher chance of suffering from anxiety and depression as well as attention problems.


Overeating
When you consume more food than your body needs, the excess calories are stored as fat and this may contribute to obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension. All these are potential risk factors of cerebrovascular disease (stroke)

Covering the Head while asleep
Many people have the habit of covering their heads with a pillow before sleeping. This seemingly harmless habit disrupts adequate ventilation and deprives your brain of enough oxygen while also encouraging carbondioxide to build up. Obviously, this may have an adverse effect on your brain.

Photo credit: www.c3nl.com
 
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