Everyday health hazard 1: Lying

　　日常健康危害之1：撒謊

　　Whether you’re complimenting your best friend’s unflattering hairdo or “improvising”on the cost of your new designer shoes, we all tell the odd fibfrom time to time. However, according to research, those little white lies could be more harmful than you think. Lying can generate feelings of stress which are damaging to your health, and a study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that when people reduced the amount of lies they told they suffered from less headaches, sore throats and anxiety.

　　無論你是在恭維你最好朋友那不討喜的發型，或臨時沖動購物買下最新名牌鞋，在這時候我們通常會撒一些古怪的小謊。但是最新的研究顯示，即便是那些無害純潔的小謊言也會帶來意想不到的危害。撒謊會產生壓力，而壓力會損害你的健康。一項來自圣母大學的研究發現，當人們減少說謊話的次數時，他們就會減少頭疼、咽喉疼痛和焦慮的患病次數。

　　Everyday health hazard 2: Eating at your desk

　　日常健康危害之2：辦公桌上吃飯

　　If you’re having a busy day in work, it can be tempting to skip your lunch break and eat at your desk. However, missing out on breaks is not only bad for your stress levels, eating while distracted may also mean you are more likely to overeat. Furthermore, spending your lunch hour at your desk can lengthen the time you are physically inactive and also expose you to harmful bacteria. According to a study by the University of Arizona, your work station contains nearly 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat, making it a less than ideal place for dining.

　　如果你工作忙綠，你的午餐休息時間可能沒了，就不得不在辦公桌上吃午飯。然而錯過了休息不僅會讓你感到壓力緊張，而且心煩意亂的你在這時候吃飯會導致你進食過量。此外，在辦公桌上吃飯，你的身體不活動的時間就會增加，還會讓你暴露在有害的細菌環境中。亞利桑那大學的研究報告顯示，辦公環境細菌量是馬桶座圈平均量的400倍，你還想在這樣的地方進餐嗎？

　　Everyday health hazard 3: Housework

　　日常健康危害之3：家務

　　Need an excuse to put your feet up? Well, good news: research suggests that leaving the housework for another day could give your health a boost! Research results published in the Journal of Family Psychology revealed that doing housework when you get home from work prevents levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) from lowering and reduces recovery from stress. However, stress levels for both men and women were lowered by housework being completed – just so long as they weren’t the ones doing it. Look after your health by taking turns to do the housework with other members of your household if possible, and take time out to relax afterwards.

　　想找個理由不做家務？那有好消息了：研究顯示，人們把家務活留到第二天做，身體會更棒！《家庭心理學》刊登了這篇研究報告，報告結果顯示，當你下班回家后做家務活，皮質醇（壓力荷爾蒙）的釋放會被抑制。皮質醇能降低壓力，還能縮短受壓后的恢復時間。但是當家務被完成后，男性和女性的壓力水平都會降低——只要做家務的不僅僅只有他或她。可以的話，你可以和家人分擔家務，這樣能讓自己保持健康，還有家務過后記得要抽時間休息啊。

　　Everyday health hazard 4: Using cash machines

　　日常健康危害之4：使用自動提款機

　　Withdrawing money from ATM machines is a common habit for most of us. However, cleanliness tests in Britain have revealed that cash machines are just as dirty as public toilets, and many of us are failing to wash our hands after using them. Experts assessed swabs from the key pads on cash machines and also from nearby public toilets and found that they both contained the same types of bacteria known to cause sickness. To look after your health, use an antibacterialhand gel once you have made your withdrawaland after handling money.

　　從自動提款機中提起現金是大多數人的日常習慣。然而一項英國的潔凈測試顯示，提款機和公廁一樣臟，而且，大多數人在使用后都不會去洗手。專家們在自動提款機的鍵盤和附近的公廁中提取了樣品，發現兩者均含有同樣致病菌。為了您的健康，請在提款和處理錢款后使用抗菌洗手液清洗。

　　Everyday health hazard 5: Cancelling plans

　　日常健康危害之5：取消計劃

　　Find yourself frequently cancelling plans and bailing out on social events to have a bit of time to yourself? Then it may be time to pay some attention to your social life. While a bit of ‘me time’ is essential to good mental and physical health, too much time on your own can actually be bad for you. Research suggests that having strong social bonds promotes brain health, reduces feelings of depression and stress and encourages you to look after your health. In fact, a study found that having few friends affects your longevityas much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

　　發現自己頻繁取消計劃，還想擺脫社交活動，只為擠出屬于自己的空閑時間？那么現在是時候在自己的社交生活中多多用心。擁有少量屬于自己的時間，對于精神和身體方面是非常有益處的，但是太多屬于自己的時間，反而有可能會害了你。研究顯示，較強的社交聯系有益于大腦的健康，同時能避免抑郁、降低壓力，還能鼓勵自己多關注自身的健康。事實上一項研究發現，沒有朋友也會減少你的壽命，效果相當于1天抽15根煙。