Doctors And Medical Professionals Are Sharing The Everyday Things People Do That Could Be Killing Them

We all have bad habits, but at times, they come with consequences, especially if unchecked for too long.

Recently, we asked doctors and medical professionals of the BuzzFeed Community to share the everyday things people are doing that they believe are slowly hurting or, at worst, killing them.

Here's everything they shared:

1."Isolating yourself! Chronic social isolation can increase the risk of depression, heart disease, and premature death. As a palliative care doctor, I worry most about those without a community to support them in tough times — cultivating connection is key to a longer, healthier, and happier life!"

2."Not paying attention to your body. Take 60 seconds for a physical check-in at the end of the day and log it into a health tracker. The more information about you, the better. Doing this allows you to notice small changes that can lead to something big."

"All of a sudden, do you notice you go from being a once-a-day pooper to once-a-week? That could be a sign of a major intestinal issue. Daily headaches and ringing in your ears? You may have high blood pressure. I'll never be mad at a patient who gives me a symptom log. You are with your body 24/7. I see you for 15 minutes."

—Anonymous, Physician

3."Not flossing. Dentist here, there are so many health issues exacerbated by your body fighting the low-level inflammation caused by gingivitis and periodontal disease. Cardiovascular, diabetes and almost any disease can worsen by not flossing. Get the free floss from your dentist, stick it on top of your toothbrush, and use it every single day."

4."I work in ophthalmology, and many people don't realize how important eye exams are. Especially people with good, uncorrected vision. An eye exam is the ONLY way a doctor can see the health of your blood vessels without actually cutting you open. They can see how diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension affect your body and sometimes even diagnose them early. These are all diseases that have high mortality rates, and you could save yourself with a simple eye exam."

—Anonymous, Ophthalmology

5."Being stationary! As a primary care provider, I find myself talking with patients frequently about getting up and moving. Most people think they have to exercise vigorously, but this is not necessarily the case. At least 30 minutes of a brisk walk can go a long way."

6."Emergency room doctor here. People think weed is pretty well tolerated by most. While it doesn't have the more directly attributable pulmonary, cardiovascular, and carcinogenic effects of tobacco, I've had countless patients experience a dose/frequency-dependent effect on their mental health. Most commonly, we see it worsen anxiety or trigger paranoia (after its effect wears off), but chronically, it can put others in a lack of desire/willingness to push through difficult or demanding times… having deleterious effects on their work and social circles. This is amplified even more so with youth.”

"Also, health remains holistic…I wish I saw more people accept themselves as capable and powerful individuals who can start/continue to take care of their bodies (physical, mental, and spiritual). We are sometimes dealt a bad hand of cards, but so much of what we treat and prescribe is prevented with a healthy diet (with avoidance of smoking/drugs/alcohol), adequate sleep, regular exercise, healthy social interaction, stress management, and utmost respect for one's dignity."

—Anonymous, ER Doctor

7."Nurse Practitioner here. The accessibility of prescription medications through online platforms and virtual providers is appalling. Tempting patients who are struggling with weight loss with a GLP-1 prescription not only drives up the cost for diabetic patients who depend on that drug, but it is also dangerous to take without a comprehensive history and physical. Side effects and adverse reactions like pancreatitis are just one part of it."

"If you are scheduled for a procedure with anesthesia and your care team does not know you are prescribed a GLP-1 through one of these platforms, you are at a high risk of suffering aspiration pneumonia or other pulmonary complications related to delayed gastric emptying. This can lead to unexpected intubation, life support, sepsis, and, yes, death. And yes, we see it happen. GLP-1s serve a purpose and if you qualify for them, then just ask your regular provider. We don't judge, and the majority of us simply want what is best for you!"

—awfulsundae30

8."As a pharmacist, I see people all day on meds. Some are there for acute issues (post-op pain, acute illness, seasonal allergies, etc). Some are for chronic issues. I've seen someone pick up 17 meds at one time. Some people don't even use my pharmacy and just need an OTC recommendation. So many people do not know what they are taking or what it's for."

9."ER doc here. Not taking your meds. Many ER visits are associated with medication non-compliance. While most of these are for mild non-emergent symptoms, some of these visits can be for life-threatening problems such as severe heart failure exacerbations. The point is these visits can be avoided by just taking your medication."

"And believe me, I understand that some people have difficulty obtaining their medication for any number of reasons (cost, transportation, availability, etc.). Still, if I had a dollar for every person who has told me that they aren't taking them because they simply haven't gone to pick them up or that they feel like they don't need them anymore without having spoken to their doctor, I might very well be able to pay off my loans."

—Anonymous, ER Doctor

Similarly, "Not taking their blood pressure meds. Even worse, not knowing what meds they take whatsoever. People are their own worst enemy when it comes to heart health and blood pressure. They're called the 'silent killers' because high blood pressure can cause blood vessel disease with no symptoms til it's too late – hurting the function in your heart, your kidneys, your feet, your fingertips, your eyes, and your brain."

10."If you have diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure), PLEASE take your meds and eat a diet that supports your comorbidities. I'm a cardiothoracic ICU nurse; the amount of people who have to have open heart surgery, because they didn't take their meds or limit their consumption of caffeine, sodium, and carbs, is nuts."

"Even after surgery, patients will still tell me they can't wait to get home so they can eat food like Dunkin', pizza, fried everything, and burgers. Their chests are held together with wire and a wish that they take care of themselves."

—Anonymous, Cardiothoracic ICU Nurse

11."Drinking sugary drinks. I can't tell you how many 30 and 40-year-olds I see with newly diagnosed diabetes who are drinking loads of soda, juice, energy drinks, or sugary coffee. Once they switch to water, their labs essentially are back to normal. People who drink 1-2 sugary drinks a day have a 26% greater risk for type 2 diabetes. Cut out the sugary drinks!"

12."Skipping your recommended screenings. Mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies, etc. These things are recommended because they are designed to catch cancer early before you start having symptoms. The earlier we can 'catch' your cancer, the higher your chances are of having a full recovery.”

"By ignoring these recommendations and waiting until you have symptoms, the higher the chance the cancer has already become metastatic and much harder to treat. Also, these screenings are typically covered by your insurance at no cost to you."

—Anonymous, Breast sonographer

13."I have seen so many cases of young people suffering from pancreatitis because they drank too much alcohol. Literally, you drink your pancreas sick. We're talking tubes in your stomach pumping out bile, tubes in your upper small intestine past your pancreas (to give it rest) feeding you nasty-smelling feeds. The best part of all: NO WATER, sometimes for weeks."

"If it's really bad, they'll intubate you. And if it's really, really bad, they'll place a tracheostomy and make you vent-dependent because your body has lost so much of its autonomous function. It takes months of rehab and therapy just to recover. My tip: get help to get your drinking under control."

—Anonymous, RN for a Surgical ICU

14."There are so many! 1) Motorcycles. I enjoyed the few rides I went on, but others cannot drive. Helmets help, but sometimes they just are not enough. Very, very sad. 2) Shoes that do not fit properly and having poor circulation or diabetes – a sure way to lose a toe, foot, or limb. 3) Being distracted! I've cared for people who accidentally left their car on in the garage and, luckily, survived carbon monoxide poisoning. 4) Medication safety. Toddlers will swallow a bottle of brightly colored pills."

15."I'm an OBGYN. Sitting on the toilet for long periods of time, or even just longer than you need to while looking at your phone or reading a book, worsens the risk of prolapse of both gynecological organs and hemorrhoids because of the long period of pelvic floor muscle relaxation."

—Anonymous, OBGYN

16."Snoring — neurologist here. It could be a sign of sleep apnea, which increases your risk of stroke and heart disease."

—lovelyraptor827

And lastly:

17."Doctor here. Vapes, smoking, tanning beds, full sugar soda/energy/coffee drinks (i.e., those that are more sugar than coffee), not eating enough vegetables and fruit, and not getting at least some physical movement. (Note: Movement. It does not have to be purposeful exercise such as at a gym every day.)"

What do you think? If you're a doctor or medical professional, feel free to let us know your own opinions down in the comments or at this anonymous form.