Did you know routine daily activities such as washing your hair, wearing a bra, and sitting for long periods of time can be detrimental to your long term health?
HAIR
According to Melissa Baribeau, a hairstylist at Nova Vita on Richmond, washing and styling your hair everyday can be
She suggests to break the routine, saving water while also saving your wallet.damaging to your hair’s health, as it strips away your hair’s essential natural oils and moisture.
“Usually every third or fourth day is the best. Also, hair tends to style better the next day. You’re going to save yourself a lot of time and money by not rewashing it everyday, as a lot of people use too much shampoo and conditioner at a time.”
Products also coat our hair in wax, acting like a protective barrier, preventing these essential oils from spreading from root to tip which is what our hair needs.
Baribeau advises product users to stay away from the easy drugstore finds.
As for long term effects, she urges to change your routine now to prevent dry and brittle hair down the road.
BRA’S
For a lot of women, wearing a bra is an essential aspect to our daily routines. However, they too can also cause significant health issues, especially for women who are bustier than others.
Jacki Sadi is a faculty member at Western in the School of Physical Therapy, and states common stresses these women face.
“Mainly difficulty with posture and upper back pain. If the strapping isn’t wide and the support isn’t effective on their back, not so much on their shoulder, then it creates a larger load on the top of the shoulder which can be painful and cause numbing and tingling that goes down the arm.”
For women experiencing continuous pain, Sadi suggests to get a professional bra fitting done to ensure you’re wearing the right size in the right way. She also adds a breast reduction surgery will be covered by OHIP if need be, as larger breasts are considered a significant issue that can be detrimental to your long term health.
SITTING
Whether you’re in school, in the car, at a desk in the office, or lounging in front of a TV, our lifestyles have become 
increasingly sedentary.
Jackie Sadi says studies have determined sitting for long periods of time can cause similar effects as smoking.
“The stresses on your neck and back can be cumulative and difficult on your system. Heart disease and diabetes from not moving are also potential factors.”
Sadi urges people who sit often to get up every half hour, even if it’s just for a minute or so to increase circulation to your muscles and to get your heart pumping.
“Really the key is, your body is designed to move. There’s a saying ‘motion is lotion,’ and it’s true that if you move you keep everything going and if you don’t use it you lose it,” she says.
