You might do them in secret, but habits like knuckle-cracking are sometimes impossible to break.

We might grow taller, learn better swear words and develop facial hair (well, some of us do). But not all childhood tendencies escape us.

You might do them in secret, but habits like knuckle-cracking are sometimes impossible to break.

But is your routine finger-bending dangerous? Does biting your nails really wear on your teeth? Most habits are irritating but at least the ones below dont erode you lungs.

Joint cracking

In the early cinema days, cracking ones knuckles was seen as a tough guy thing. Now we do it to relieve stress and hear our hands pop. The physical mechanism that causes our cracking is unknown.

On the flip side, the hypothesizes include: a sudden stretching of ligaments, a release of gas from the joints being adjusted, two cartilage surfaces pressed together, snapping of tendons, or cavitations within the joint.

But what about arthritis? Although scientific evidence of prolonged cracking is still unknown, this is an old wives tale that parents tell children because they think the sound is annoying. Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital conducted a study that, found no relation with osteoarthritis, but noted that knuckle crackers were more likely to have hand swelling and lower grip strength.

For those of you seeking support, visit www.jointcrackers.com to discuss your favorite positions and methods to crack your joints.

Nail biting

Did you think nail biting was just for kids â?¦ think again. This habit, caused by hunger, nervousness and stress, occurs in 19 percent to 29 percent of young adults. Although a normal biter carries a low risk of infection, its possible for the germs under the nail to be transported into the mouth.

Think about that the next time you see someone leave the restroom without washing their hands â?¦

Long-time addicts might also notice wearing on the front teeth causing erosion of the enamel. Doctors are giving young adults anti-depressants to treat the problem. If medication isnt your thing, theres always nail polish.

Fidgeting

Why is it that whenever I have a big test, someones massive leg is wiggling back and forth? Maybe it triggers brain stimulation, or maybe they have Tourettes disorder.

Despite the annoyance, a study on CNN shows new research linking fidgeting to weight loss. Michael Jensen of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says, The people who were burning a lot of extra calories were doing it in the activities of daily life â?¦ these activities could include fidgeting, standing up often, stretching and just efforts to maintain good posture.

Although the research suggests otherwise, Id rather see someone hitting the gym twice a week than doing their workout in class. Although this is one of the hardest habits to break, keeping your body occupied with something else can help, like a stress ball.

(Source: CNN.com)

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