Smoking is lethal, and it's a cliché. In India alone, 10 million people die each year due to smoking. But there are more parasites eating on us. We hardly notice and often ignore them, though can be equally potential threats to our health as smoking.

* Loneliness: Research has proven that chronic loneliness can affect our overall health. Its impact is more significant on brain health. There are also studies that point out the connection between loneliness and developing diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's. In India, almost 22% of elders stay alone. While, in youngsters, chronic loneliness is ignored.

* Poor diet: 'Eating healthy' is more a theory than a practice. Many of us eat processed and junk foods, foods rich in salt and sugars. We also often do not include vegetables and fruits in our diet. This habit forms the basis of a lot of diseases like obesity, diabetes, etc.

Inactive lifestyle: In the contemporary world, we sit long hours before the screen. A study in 2014, by the University of Regensburg in Germany, showed that every 2 hours a person sits, s/he increasing the chances of colon cancer by 8% and chances of lung cancer by 6%.

Sleep deprivation: Slumber is called 'sweet' not for nothing. It heals the body and the mind, rejuvenates us. Missing on that elixir constantly, can't do any good, obviously. Almost 33% of adults in the country suffer from insomnia and the bigger problem is that they find it normal.

Pessimistic attitude: Negative attitude and pessimism are a widespread problem. Depression results from holding a set of expectations that are not met, or not met the way we want them to. Unwanted stress follows.

All those culprits, creep in when we don't love ourselves enough. Loving oneself is the key to happiness. So, pamper yourself with all the goodies. You deserve it.
Look around, you are not the only one. Develop a purpose in life, you must be having at least one.

Life is short. And it's not just about existing....life is about living!