Many health problems are more common in older age, but this doesn’t mean that you’re immune to them when you’re young. Below are a few health problems associated with old age that are actually quite common among younger people.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that results in too much sugar within the blood and an inability to produce insulin. A 2020 report found that around 210,000 Americans under the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes. While some of this was genetic, a lot of the people in the report were found to have developed diabetes through unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Being heavily overweight and eating a poor diet are big contributing factors to diabetes. To reduce your risk of developing diabetes, make sure that you are exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.
Heart disease
Heart disease is the biggest killer, and it is most common among older people. However, young people can develop heart disease too. One common cause is a genetic condition which causes the heart muscle to grow too thick.
Being overweight or being a smoker can also put you at increased risk of developing heart disease early. Chest pain, shortness of breath and numbness in arms and legs are all signs of heart disease that are worth looking out for. Heart disease can often be controlled with medication and by making lifestyle changes.
Hearing loss
You’re more likely to develop hearing loss when you’re older, however a growing number of young people are starting to experience preventable hearing loss. The cause is often listening to music too loudly – whether it be on headphones, in the car or at a concert/nightclub. Fortunately, hearing loss can often be treated easily with a hearing aid.
This article explains more about hearing loss and hearing aids. To reduce the risk of developing hearing loss when you are young, wear ear protection at loud events and avoid listening to music too loudly on headphones.
Arthritis
It’s possible to develop arthritis when you’re young. Such joint inflammation can stem from various causes – the biggest of which are lack of exercise and obesity, which can put pressure on joints such as the knees.
Losing weight and being active could reduce your risk of developing arthritis. Repetitive actions can also lead to repetitive strain injuries, which may turn into arthritis – if you play a lot of sports or do a lot of typing, this could be something to be wary of.
Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects 1 in 8 adults between the ages of 20 and 40. It can be caused by all kinds of lifestyle factors including smoking, diet, weight gain, alcohol and stress.
High blood pressure can increase the risk of developing all kinds of health problems ranging from heart disease to blindness. It can also increase the risk of complications in pregnancy. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle you may be able to reduce the risk of developing hypertension.
