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Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
CuriositiesMAY 7, 2025

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary

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"Never trust the Internet with health advice," people say. When I think of how many times a visit to WebMD has given me a cancer scare, I'd agree. 54% of American consumers say they see food and nutrition content on their feeds regularly.
Yet Baby-Boomers are the most skeptical: only 59% trust the food and nutrition content on social media, compared to 71% of Gen X, 68% of Millennials, and 76% of Gen Z.
One netizen wanted to hear from true medical experts on the internet about the everyday things we need to look out for if we want to stay healthy. So, they decided to ask: "Medical professionals, what are some of the most mundane reasons most people are unaware of that make them sick?"
And the medical professionals of Reddit delivered, reminding us why such simple habits like brushing our teeth, washing our hands, and taking our meds are so important.
Bored Panda got in touch with the netizen who addressed the medical professionals of Reddit. r/chickencaesar8 kindly agreed to share his thoughts on healthy living with us. Read our short conversation below!

#1

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Psych nurse here. Don’t stop your meds because you’re “feeling better”. Why do you think you feel better.
88points

In the age of the internet, lots of people look for health advice online. The CDC reports that 58.5% of Americans admitted looking for medical information online in 2022. R/chickencaesar8 tells Bored Panda that one of the reasons he started this thread was because of his partner's recent health issues.

"Lately, my partner has been getting these itchy rashes all over his body and we don't know where they're coming from," the Redditor shared. He says that he often turn to Reddit to find out the answers to random questions or ideas when there's no one else who could answer them.

"I also think that medical professionals will have better knowledge in answering the question through their expertise/experiences in their field," r/chickencaesar8 says in regard to this particular thread.

#2

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Finishing antibiotics.

Always finish the full course you are prescribed. You think k you are better. But the bacteria may not be dead and it’s gonna come back stronger.
76points

#3

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
People don’t realize how their partners make them mentally sick.
70points

With so much information available to us, we might think that we're more health-conscious than ever. For example, when it comes to nutrition, 77% of Americans claim they would like to be eating healthier.

r/chickencaesar8 doesn't spend that much time thinking about his health. "I have never considered myself health-conscious as I enjoy eating all kinds of food though I always know when to stop," he shares.

"I guess I consider myself a sensible eater. I also do not smoke, I drink enough water and sleep around eight hours a day."

#4

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Ok so this is not related to sickness but injury - after a certain age (different for everyone) you should get rid of every slippery pair of socks, uneven area rug, or any other tripping hazard in your house. It's very easy to trip and fall in the dark trying to get to the bathroom and a lot of people have major complications trying to recover from a broken hip or other leg injury. Small trip hazards in your house may not seem like a big deal, but they could lead to an injury that you never recover from and it's a very common problem.
61points

#5

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Not brushing your teeeeeth, mouth bacteria can lead to a hundred different head to toe issues and can even k**l you.
57points

#6

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
If you have sudden unexplained weight loss PLEASE go get checked out. I can not begin to count how many people (especially middle aged and older) I've triaged for some other symptoms drop a random 'oh yeah and I've lost xx amount of lbs in a month' and more often than not it turns out to be CANCER. You're not turning into a skinny legend, it's cachexia 😭.
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52points

"My partner and I love going for walks, play badminton occasionally and play board games. I would say we have a relationship that's full of laughter, nice conversations, adventures with a bit of drama every now and then," r/chickencaesar8 adds.

If you think the habits the Redditor listed don't count as a healthy lifestyle, think again! A 2023 study of lifestyle behaviors identified the healthy habits that can prolong our lives by 24 years.

And what are those magical tips? Mostly things we've all probably heard before: a healthy diet, regular exercise, less stress, getting enough sleep, and positive social relationships.

#7

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Listening to influencers who are not medically trained.

I’ve watched ads on TikTok where an influencer will pour two packs of liquid iv into a cup to make a new flavor. Or whatever the hell the raw milk and unpasteurized nonsense is. You can’t lemon and cayenne water your way out of hyperlipidemia, but you can erode your gastric lining.
52points

#8

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
NOT a medical professional but so far there's been three entirely unrelated people in my life who have casually gone Pants On Head Crazy and then found out they had black mold in their homes.

For the love of god, if you start noticing somebody's lost the plot, lovingly convince them to do black mold testing. If it's not that, their thyroid may have gathered its little coat and hat and suitcase and headed out the door.
52points

#9

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Leaving a tooth infection without treatment. It can cause so many bad things.
51points

R/chickencaesar8's thread did reveal some things some of us do that may cost us our health in the long run. For the Redditor, the answer about men not wiping was the one that stood out the most. 

This may surprise you, but even a quite recent YouGov poll showed that not all people wipe with toilet paper after a bowel movement. 86% of the respondents said they always use toilet paper. 14% claimed they go for wet wipes. Let's just hope everyone uses one or the other every time!

#10

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Not drinking water. So many people feel like s**t but only drink coffee, Coke, and Corona. People like this live live on a onife edge of minor dehydration where the tiniest bit of exertion feels impossible. If you actually drink the water your body needs, it fixes all sorts of minor issues.
51points

#11

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
If your toes start turning black from untreated diabetes, it’s not going to get better on its own, it will only continue to get worse, and lead to irreparable damage including the loss of the foot entirely.

idk if people also realize that aspirating things (something “going down the wrong tube” as most people say) causes pneumonia.

also idk if this counts but i can say that after multiple months doing xray at an inner city level 1 trauma hospital, i will never ever get on a motorcycle, four wheeler, atv, dirtbike, none of that. nope no thanks im good.
50points

#12

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Pharmacy technician here. Don't stop taking your blood pressure meds. If your blood pressure is good, now is not the time to stop your meds. They are working.
49points

So, Pandas, let's all wash our hands, brush our teeth, floss, finish our meds, and wipe after going to the toilet! That way, we can live healthier and, hopefully, longer lives.

If we have any medical professionals here among our fellow Pandas, be sure to share any mundane things that make people sick in the comments, too!

#13

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
1. Drinking. Cirrhosis is very very mean.
2. Wash. Your. Hands. I don’t mean a little squirt of soap and then immediately rinse it off, I mean the whole 20 seconds. Noro/sapovirus, C. Diff, trust me, you don’t want it.
47points

#14

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
I’ve had so many male patients with rectal problems because they will not wipe after using the bathroom. One guy told me it’s gay to touch your butt. Another said he just don’t do that wipe thing. Another said he didn’t care. Totally preventable disease state.
46points

#15

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Derm PA here- please moisturize your skin. Wearing lotion is not only a “girly” thing to do. Dry skin can lead to itchy skin, which can lead to chronically itchy skin, which can lead to intense scratching and can leave open wounds and sores.

Itchy skin can drive a person bonkers. I see it everyday. The easiest way to prevent this is to wear lotion.
46points

#16

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
I could go to a doctor with an axe in my head and the first things he would tell me are: Don't smoke, exercise more, eat healthier.

Whats often overlooked is I think is: Sleep more, work less.
46points

#17

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Not. Enough. Fiber.
44points

#18

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Vaping. I have pts that repeatedly see allergists/pulmonary bc they “don’t know why i’m wheezy all the time and it feels like i can’t breathe.” Nasal sprays, antihistamines, allergy pills, 3-4 different nebs…all while denying they vape. It’s gross.
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41points

#19

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
Not following a doctor's advice to cut something from your diet. For example, people who say, 'Doc told me to stop eating gluten and dairy. So I had pizza for dinner, but it’s ok because i took a lactaid.' Just..no. That’s not how that works. That’s not how any of that works.
41points

#20

Someone Asked Medical Professionals What Everyday Things Make Us Sick, And These 35 Are Scary
I had a Type 1 diabetic patient in medical school who stopped taking her insulin because it would help her lose weight quickly. 

Her chronic high blood sugars instead shut her kidneys down and blinded her in one eye. .
39points
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