There's an old saying that goes, "Use it or lose it," which essentially means that if you have something, you better use it before it's gone. However, we don't have many sayings about overuse, and as it turns out, we shouldn't. There are many things in life you can overuse that you might not even realize. Let's look at ten of the most unexpected.
10. Using too much willpower makes it difficult to continue doing it.
If you're a Green Lantern, only through sheer force of will can you save the universe from nefarious extraterrestrial threats. We place great value on willpower and determination. But it must be tempered, and since most of us don't possess a powerful ring of mysterious origin, we must be careful how we use that willpower.
There's evidence that you can wear down your willpower over time. If you use willpower in one situation, you'll use less of it in the next. In one study, participants were placed in a room with a plate of freshly baked cookies and a bowl of radishes. One group was asked to eat only the radishes, while the other group was asked to eat the cookies. Both were then asked to solve a puzzle. Those who used willpower to resist the liver, gave up on the puzzle after an average of 8 minutes, while those who ate them lasted 19 minutes.
The basic idea here is that willpower requires mental energy. Using up your mental energy reserves and maintaining self-control becomes extremely difficult over time. The more energy you use, the less willpower you can exert. This theory has been challenged by other researchers who conducted similar experiments and found no evidence for what they call "« ego depletion »"But the original researcher claims that subsequent studies had problems with their methodologies.
9. Excessive pacifier use can cause speech development problems.
In what appears to be another case where The Simpsons predict the future, it turns out Maggie was doomed to silence from the start, all thanks to that pacifier. Research has shown that children who overuse pacifiers can have problems with speech development at a later age.
In addition to thumb sucking and bottle use, children who suck a pacifier for more than three years havethree times higher probability Children who use a pacifier are more likely to develop speech defects than children who don't. It's possible that using a pacifier can alter the shape of the dental arch and bite, which can still cause problems if pacifier use is reduced. Other studies suggest that children who use a pacifier after age two are at risk of altering the way their teeth grow and the shape of their bite, which is where speech problems can begin.
8. Excessive use of mouthwash can worsen your overall oral health.
Dentists recommend using mouthwash Provided you use it correctly, as part of your overall oral care routine. And why not? It leaves you feeling minty fresh and helps combat that feeling you get when you wake up with a swampy taste in your mouth.
The type of mouthwash you use can cause problems, especially if you use it too often. Most mouthwashes use alcohol as a carrier to retain ingredients that can cause bad breath, but research has linked them to oral cancer . Again, this is caused by alcohol, meaning that those who don't drink alcohol, often the kind once marketed as milder, wouldn't experience the same problems. For some people, it can also cause a severe burning sensation.
Dry mouth is another common side effect after using mouthwash. Sodium lauryl sulfate , the foaming ingredient, can also cause stomatitis. Tooth staining and the destruction of beneficial bacteria are also potential side effects.
7. Porn abuse can cause ED
You might be tempted to dismiss this fact, but there's pornography on the internet. For most people, it's not a problem. If you're not interested, you avoid it. If you are, you might seek it out. But another thing you might not know is that you could potentially abuse pornography. In a truly, physically debilitating way. Pornography abuse has been linked to erectile dysfunction in men.
A study on how pornography affects sexual dysfunction, This is still being debated, so consider this more of a warning than absolute certainty. However, a number of studies have concluded that excessive pornography use can lead to erectile dysfunction, and that abstaining from it for a period of time can reverse these effects.
So how does this even work? Well, sexual arousal and response are as much mental as physical. Some studies suggest that excessive pornography use causes potential desensitization to sexual stimuli . Essentially, you see so much for so long that nothing excites you anymore. It's like eating your favorite food every day for 10 years. Eventually, you lose all interest.
For what it's worth, there are also some studies that show the opposite may happen, and that pornography may help treat ED in some men.
6. Excessive use of flip-flops can cause orthopedic problems
In the summer, you can't swing at a cat without hitting someone wearing flip-flops, the informal footwear of choice in hot weather. While they're ideal for strolling by the pool or on the beach to avoid the hot sand, the health of your feet shouldn't be ignored, and flip-flops are hardly orthopedic footwear. If you wear them too often, you may regret it.
Flip-flops do not offer any arch support . They don't absorb much force when you walk, so your heels thump and there's no ankle support like in regular shoes. Basically, it's like walking barefoot. Again, this is fine in small doses, but over time, it can cause problems. And it gets worse. Unlike simply walking barefoot, you also get blisters from the potentially rough soles, as well as from the straps between your toes, and a breeding ground for fungus. So it's even worse than barefoot.
Research shows that people in flip-flops change their gait , to adjust to their position. This leads not only to leg pain but also to hip and lower back pain.
5. Overusing Kegel exercises can cause pain.
Kegel exercises are done to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and are associated with increased sexual pleasure, as well as the ability to prevent urinary incontinence. among other benefits . You can do them practically anywhere, and no one even knows you're doing them, so they seem like a good idea, right? Well, as we've learned, all good things in moderation. So what happens when you overdo the Kegels?
Doctors may recommend different methods, but something like 100 10-second muscle curls a day may be considered normal. However, as with any exercise, some people prefer the "go hard or go home" approach, and if you do too much, you can overwork those muscles. The end result can be muscle discomfort and pain during intercourse .
Other symptoms may include urinary incontinence , bladder pain, frequent urination, constipation, and other pain. In other words, doing too many Kegel exercises can negate literally everything you might want to do them for.
4. Overusing a bidet can cause serious health problems.
For some, there's nothing better in the world than a bidet. For others, the very idea is a source of discontent. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when toilet paper was hoarding and in short supply, bidets saw a surge in popularity. But not everything is rosy and a bidet sprays roses. It turns out, a little splash at the back door can cause some damage if you're not careful.
Like anything you might shoot into your butt, a bidet needs to be used correctly and with care. Some bidets have adjustable pressure and water temperature. A powerful jet of hot water isn't something you want to shoot into your sensitive anatomy. Messages about bidet-related injuries, Not many, but they exist. People have reported problems with rectal prolapse and fissures, as well as burns from hot water.
In Japan, excessive bidet use has been linked to anal itching, which is a fancy way of saying «itching» . There was a lot of itching. But this also led to anal incontinence. There's also a risk of infection if several people use the same bidet, and bacteria from the nozzle is transmitted from one person to another.
3. Too much laughing gas destroys your spine.
Most people don't have many reasons to try nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, in their daily lives. It's typically used as an anesthetic for dental procedures and to boost your car's speed when street racing. It's a good thing we don't encounter it that often, because it can be quite dangerous. destroy your spine .
There are people who use nitrous oxide recreationally to get a quick high. If you've ever heard of whippets, that's exactly what they talk about. But the risk of spinal degeneration has sent many users to the hospital and, in some cases, left them paralyzed. confined to a wheelchair . Gas can deplete your body of vitamin B12. Over time, this leads to spinal degeneration.
Many users consider the gas harmless. It's not a controlled substance, and there's no scientific evidence that it's addictive, as there hasn't been much research in this area. However, it does give users a quick feeling of euphoria and exhilaration, which makes sense for something called laughing gas. However, in recent years, particularly in Europe, there has been an increase in hospital cases of serious injuries caused by the gas.
2. Excessive internet use can cause brain damage.
You like the internet, right? It's home to almost all human knowledge, plus you can use it to order pizza 24/7. It's the best thing we've ever done, except for the scams, toxicity, harassment, and despair. Plus, it might cause brain damage.
Research into teenagers suffering from internet addiction has shown structural and functional disorders in the parts of their brain associated with organization. This was compared to the disturbances found in the brains of alcoholics and gambling addicts.
People with internet addiction suffer from changes in the white and gray matter of the brain similar to those seen in the brains of people with cocaine addiction . As a result, emotional and brain function suffer. Side effects can include mood disorders, anxiety, and depression.
1. Overusing pain-relieving creams can kill you.
Have you ever used numbing cream? They're typically used after cosmetic surgery procedures, like laser hair removal. As part of your aftercare, you can use a topical anesthetic cream to reduce pain after the procedure. There are similar creams you can use if you have various types of injuries, instead of taking painkillers, especially if the injury is just a skin wound.
However, it turns out that these creams, intended to relieve pain, can be abused to the point where they actually kill you. In 2007, at least two people died from excessive use of pain-relieving creams after laser hair removal on the legs.
These creams use medications such as lidocaine, benzocaine, and others, and if the doses are high enough, too much can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This can lead to irregular heartbeat and coma , as well as death, even if they are used as prescribed by a doctor.
The FDA warned that while many of these creams are prescribed by doctors, there are over-the-counter versions that should be used as directed and that a doctor should be consulted before using anything.