Your twenties and thirties are when you are in the prime of your health. You won’t be particularly concerned about your health unless you start noticing specific symptoms. Don’t be fooled by age, though.
Several conditions may seem like they are for older folks but you may be surprised that they can affect you in your youth too. See your doctor regularly, be aware of your family history and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are some health conditions that you can get when you are young, according to experts.
High blood pressure
"Awareness and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in older adults has improved significantly over the past 10 years," said Dr Anthony Kouri, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon. 50 per cent of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure goes untreated and this can lead to heart disease in the future and decreased lifespan. Get regular checkups as hypertension usually doesn’t have any symptoms
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is crucial for good bone health. Nearly half of young adults have a Vitamin D deficiency in today’s day. Vitamin D helps the immune system work and nervous system work properly. Intake of the right amount of Vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis in the future. Foods like salmon, tuna, egg yolks, milk, and fortified orange juice are all rich in the vitamin.
Skin cancer
"The biggest trend I've been noticing is the increased incidence in skin cancer diagnoses for my patients in their 20s and 30s," said Dr Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD. Tanning beds are the leading cause of this kind of cancer. If you spot scaly red spots, pimple-like lesions that don’t seem to go away, you may have skin cancer. If things seem out of the ordinary, consult a dermatologist immediately.
Infertility
When you are in your 20s, it is unlikely that you would have thought about when you want to have your kids. "Infertility is a health condition that many young people do not expect can impact them, especially before they are trying to start a family," Dr Robert Mordkin, MD, FACS told Bustle. If you have hormonal imbalance or irregular periods, you could face infertility issues. If you are diagnosed with a condition, then know that there are several
Liver disease
"Liver disease is a condition that can impact younger patients, despite the general assumption that this illness is reserved for the older population," said Dr Robert Mordkin. "Due to factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, Hepatitis and hemochromatosis, liver disease can impact individuals as young as their 20s or 30s." Loss of appetite, swelling of stomach and nausea are some of the signs of liver damage. Talk to your doctor if you notice these symptoms and immediately make a lifestyle change to improve your health.
Sleep apnea
"One health condition that I think is frequently overlooked by people in their 20s and 30s is sleep apnea," said Dr Jagdeep Bijwadia, MD. "People of all ages and body types can have sleep apnea." This disorder causes irregular breathing when you sleep and thus it could lead to irregular heartbeat, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Check with your doctor if you find yourself waking up in the night, gasping for air.
Autoimmune diseases
More often, autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, lupus, Crohn’s disease affect those who are 40 and above. "But now we’re seeing these occur in people in their 20s and 30s," Gedroic said. Pesticides in your food, high sugar consumption and environmental factors are causing the occurrence of these diseases in younger people too. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, consult your doctor immediately.
