Neurologist reveals six everyday habits he tries to avoid because of their links to cancer, dementia

A neurologist has revealed six seemingly innocent things he would never do because of the risk of strokes, dementia and cancer.

Dr. Baibing Chen said that common habits such as going to the chiropractor, cracking the neck and not getting enough sleep can lead to a higher risk of brain damage.

And with temperatures dropping across the country, the Michigan-based neurologist recommended being extra careful with space heaters, which can release dangerous carbon monoxide, and stretching before exercising in the winter.

He detailed his no-nos in half two TikTok videoswho have more than 3.7 million views combined, Dr. Chen, who is online Dr. Bing is called

First on Dr.’s list of no’s. Bing was “powerful neck manipulations,” which are usually performed by chiropractors but also include cracking your neck.

This involves applying force to the joints in the neck to improve alignment and relieve pain.

While as many as one in ten Americans undergo neck and back adjustments each year, the safety of going to the chiropractor has long been debated.

Dr. Bing said: ‘Force adjustments to the neck can carry a rare but serious risk, and that is vertebral artery dissection.’

This is a tear in the artery that supplies blood to the brain stem and spine. When the artery ruptures, blood can leak and form clots that block blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke.

Dr. Bing said: ‘It’s a small risk for normal people, but if you already have a weak vessel wall or if you have a tear that you weren’t aware of, your risk of stroke is much higher after manipulation.

He also noted that a brain stem stroke “can lead to one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen, and it’s called locked-in syndrome.”

This extremely rare condition causes the body to become almost completely paralyzed. Patients cannot move or talk, but are fully aware of everything happening around them.

It has only been reported a handful of times in the medical literature.

Dr. Bing said, “For neck pain, I stick to safer options like stretching, gentle exercises or physical therapy.”

He also said he would never ignore a headache that “feels different” from his regular headache.

For people with chronic headaches and migraines, it is easy to ignore headaches. However, when new symptoms or patterns emerge, “this could be a sign of something serious, such as a hemorrhage, tumor or aneurysm,” Dr. Bing said.

According to experts at Harvard University, symptoms that require immediate attention include sudden and severe pain, changes in personality or mental functioning, pain that increases with coughing or movement, and headaches accompanied by neck pain or fever.

Dr. Bing also prioritizes getting enough sleep.

He said: ‘Chronic sleep deprivation may increase the risk of dementia.’

During sleep, brain cells and their connections shrink, creating more space between cells. This helps remove beta-amyloid, a protein that clumps together to form plaques that disrupt brain communication, destroying it and leading to dementia.

Dr. Bing recommends getting at least six hours of sleep every night, but ideally you need eight.

Specifically for the winter season, he recommends avoiding space heaters.

As well as being a fire hazard, Dr Bing said these ‘can be incredibly dangerous’ due to an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Although electric space heaters themselves do not produce carbon monoxide, gas space heaters can release it in an area that is not well ventilated because fuel cannot burn completely in a poorly ventilated area.

Carbon monoxide poisoning has been shown to increase the risk of dementia by depriving the brain of oxygen, causing brain cells to die.

If you go outside to shovel snow, make sure you stretch first.

Dr. Bing said, “The cold weather tricks your brain into thinking you’re not working as hard as you are because you’re not as warm or sweating as much.

“This is dangerous because something as simple as creating is more intense than people realize.”

He noted that overexertion can lead to fainting, increasing the risk of head injury.

He said: ‘I always recommend stretching for at least five to 10 minutes and taking frequent breaks before any winter activity, including shoveling.’

Dr. Bing also warned not to ignore the signs of seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression caused by a lack of sunlight and shorter days in winter.

He said: ‘This isn’t just about feeling down. It can actually lead to significant cognitive and emotional changes, such as poor concentration, fatigue and a lack of motivation.

He noted that this is because low light disrupts the production of serotonin, a mood-boosting hormone, and melatonin in the brain, which tells the body it’s time for bed.

He recommends 20 to 30 minutes of light therapy in the morning to increase serotonin levels and stave off melatonin, as well as regular exercise and sleep and going outside during the day.