As our lifestyles and habits change, new health problems emerge all the time. There are a lot of health issues that we’re struggling with right now that simply didn’t exist 100 years ago but changes to our way of life have created them. Understanding what these problems are and what is causing them in the first place is the key to avoiding them and living a happy, healthy life. These are some of the biggest health problems we face right now.
Obesity
Weight issues are a huge problem amongst adults but more importantly, in children. Children are being classified as obese at a very young age which is incredibly worrying because it means they’re likely to maintain that weight in later life. There are a lot of different reasons why we’re struggling with our weight which makes it very difficult to tackle the problem. Food is increasingly confusing because, even if you avoid the mountains of fatty and sugary food you can still get caught out. Things that are advertised as low fat are often packed with sugar so they’re causing weight gain anyway and a lot of things like fruit juices that people use as healthier substitutes are high in sugar as well. The only way to really know what you’re eating is to make your own healthy food with fresh ingredients rather than relying on pre-made stuff.
As well as what we eat, the amount of exercise we’re doing is a big problem. When you’re competing with computers and phones it’s difficult to get kids outside and adults with a busy work life find it difficult to fit it into their schedules. Even if you’re just doing ten minutes of exercise and trying to be a bit more active generally, it’s better than nothing. Exercise has so many health benefits so you should try to make time for it where you can.
Opioid Crisis
Opioids have been in the news a lot over the last couple of years as doctors have come under fire for prescribing them too readily and the companies that manufacture them have been accused of downplaying the risks and using incentives to encourage doctors to prescribe them. This has led to the opioid epidemic which is having devastating effects. People that are prescribed these painkillers quickly develop an addiction to them and often turn to harder street drugs or illegally buy more pills once their prescription runs out. Now that the extent of the damage is known, opioids are controlled far more tightly but we still need to deal with the fallout from a period of over subscription.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a health problem that is often linked to weight gain. A bad diet, particularly one that is high in sugar, leads to type 2 diabetes which comes with a whole host of dangers. People often make the mistake of thinking that they’re not at risk if they aren’t overweight but you can still eat a high sugar diet without gaining loads of weight. As companies continue to produce high sugar foods, it’s getting harder to avoid. Always be mindful of what you’re eating and double check ingredients.
These health problems are beginning to spiral out of control so always be aware of the risks and make sure that you avoid them.