If you’re a young adult, you most likely feel that there’s no need to worry about certain health conditions affecting older adults. But studies continue to show that these conditions might affect you much sooner than you think. Every 1 in 5 heart attack patients is younger than 40 years old. Thanks to increased sedentary lifestyles, it’s much more common to see a rise in risk factors these days. Fortunately, these factors are easily reversible and preventable. If you start to make a conscious effort to improve your health, it can reduce your risk of developing some health problems. So, what are some of the common health conditions affecting younger adults? Below are a few common ones.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure occurs when your blood is forcefully pumped into your veins. It is also known as the “silent killer” because most people who have this condition may not display symptoms, despite the condition affecting their major vital organs and blood vessels. This medical condition has many risk factors, including a family history of hypertension, race, age, weight, diet, stress, and alcohol. Certain chronic diseases may also play a role in high blood pressure, including sleep apnea, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Studies show that almost half of adults over 20 years have high blood pressure, even though they look and seem healthy. It also increases your risk of developing serious health conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, brain aneurysms, dementia, and heart failure. Although most people don’t experience symptoms, others might experience headaches, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath. However, they still might not realize it until it has reached a life-threatening stage.
If you have certain risk factors for hypertension, ensure you check your blood pressure with a home monitor or at the doctor’s office regularly. If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you must take your medications regularly to keep your pressure stable.
Back pain
Back pain is not usually considered a problem for many young adults, so it can be surprising to many young people when they develop the condition. In most people, back pain is typically caused by over-exercising, heavy lifting, or bad posture. Nonetheless, it can be extremely painful and put your life on hold. Your doctor can suggest treatments such as alternating between icing and heating your back, taking muscle relaxers and painkillers, and doing stretches designed to alleviate the pain.
Your back pain could also be caused by degenerative disc disease, which is a condition that can show up during early adulthood. When this condition occurs, the pain might feel like two bones rubbing against each other. You can also get muscle spasms and develop sciatica. If you have back pain, ensure you visit your doctor to find the cause and available remedies.
Colorectal cancer
For a long time, age was a major risk factor for most patients diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer. However, many young adults are being affected by these diseases today. Most experts cannot pinpoint the reason for the sudden spike in colorectal cancer among young adults, but they are aware that other risk factors like smoking and obesity may play a role. Other studies also show that an unhealthy diet, especially foods made with processed meats and fat, is linked to the early stages of colorectal cancer. Because it’s been uncommon for younger adults to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, there can be a delay in getting diagnosed by a doctor. Ensure that you ask to be tested for cancer if you’re experiencing frequent bloody stools or have noticed significant changes in your bowel habits.
You’re also at risk of getting colorectal cancer if you’ve had an immediate family member contracting the disease before turning 50 years. Ideally, it would be best if you started going for routine screening 10 years before the age your family member was first diagnosed.
Type 2 diabetes
The dangerous thing about diabetes is that you could have it and not know until it gets severe. Obesity is the leading risk factor for diabetes. Considering the high rates of obesity in young adults in more recent times, it’s not surprising diabetes is on the rise.
Although it can be hard to detect, some symptoms include increased thirst and hunger, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, fatigue, and slow-healing wounds. You must see a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms for early detection. If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can cause severe damage to major organs like your heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels.
Many young adults juggle several activities that make it impossible to take care of themselves and their health. However, it would be best to prioritize your time to do things that will hugely affect your health as you age. By exercising regularly, eating well, and attending routine medical checkups, you will stay fit during your prime years and as you grow older.