Six Everyday Activities That Could Kill You
I ran across an interesting Facebook post the other day from personal injury lawyer Adam Kutner. It basically explains the likelihood of being killed by some of the traditional things we all fear – think shark attacks and lightning strikes – compared to things like driving a car. It got me thinking....One thing many people tend to worry about is things that can kill you. However, what you may not be aware of is that many of the most significant threats to a person’s life don’t come from sharks, bears or masked killers. They come from mundane everyday activities. Below is a list of six of these risky activities you may have never given a second thought to.1. Eating FishHealth nuts are constantly droning on about what foods are bad for you, but one food they rarely mention is fish. Surprisingly, fish is one of the most dangerous foods you can ingest as a regular part of your diet. The reason why is because the flesh of fish is extremely susceptible to absorbing poisons from the environment and keeping them there forever. That is until you eat that fish of course. Nasty chemicals that are often found in fish include mercury, pesticides and PCB, a toxin that causes cancer. Making fish part of your regular diet is actually a significant health risk.2. Taking the Stairs You may often hear people saying that taking the stairs over the elevator can help increase your lifespan. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The benefit of that physical fitness is more than likely canceled out by the risk of slipping and having a fatal fall. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 30,208 people were reported as having died after suffering a fall in 2013 in the United States. The most common way people die from a fall is by tripping and falling down stairs. This is especially the case for the elderly. However, younger people aren’t immune to this risk. This is certainly the case when people in a hurry try to run up steps. Slipping and falling backwards is a real possibility.3. Walking Down the StreetEven one of the most mundane of all physical activities, walking, is inherently risky. According to a report from the CDC, 4,743 pedestrians that were simply minding their own business were killed by oncoming automobiles in one year. Unfortunately, simply being out in public near roadways can be a danger. While crossing the street may seem like the most dangerous pedestrian activity, simply being on the sidewalk near a drunk or reckless driver could end up being a death sentence.4. SittingSitting down on your couch can be risky business. While being a couch potato has been associated with living an unhealthy lifestyle for decades, what about people that get enough exercise? If you thought hours of exercise would save you from the dangers of sitting, you’re dead wrong. According to CNN, sitting is dangerous even if you get plenty of exercise. Not moving and taking a break apparently can greatly increase your chances of contracting life-threatening diseases.CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta suggests moving your legs around and exercising with them while sitting down to fight the terrible risks of this dangerous activity. While it’s questionable whether or not the good doctor actually uses his own advice in public for fear of looking like he’s lost his mind, a study was released that does back up these claims. Apparently sitting can increase the chances of developing blood clots in your legs. So much for relaxation!5. DrivingOne of the most dangerous everyday activities most people partake in is driving. The odds of dying while in a car far exceed plenty of other activities associated with danger such as scuba diving in shark infested waters, flying in a plane, bungee-jumping or being outdoors in a thunderstorm. The last US census reported that nearly 40,000 people a year die from automobile accidents. With this in mind, every time you get into a car, you are putting your life at risk. Simply commuting to work or going to the store involves a calculated risk that you could suffer a gruesome death on the road.6. Being BornDriving, walking, sitting and eating can all be dangerous. With this information, you may be wondering if it’s risky to be born at all. You’d be completely right. A recent report by NBC News states that the United States is lagging behind 68 other counties in terms of infant mortality. 11,000 newborn babies die in the United States every year. The most dangerous day for a baby is the day of birth. This is due to the fact that complications during birth are still all too common. So you should certainly be thankful that you were able to survive being born at all. Many don't.This may leave you with one question. Is there any activity a person can partake in that has no risk? Probably not. This is just a fact of life. Living requires taking risks every single day. Listening too much to statistics reported on the news for every mundane activity that could lead to death would probably lead to a pretty unfulfilled life.
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