Within the UK, several health concerns are rising in diagnoses. The NHS and health centres across the country are doing their best to deal with the issues and treat people, but you should be aware of specific health concerns and what to look out for. This can help you to see the signs that you need help early.
One more common health concern is obesity. Obesity refers to someone who is overweight to the point that it is affecting their health. It is estimated that 28% of adults are obese, with a further 36.2% being overweight but not obese. To get around this, individuals should look to increase their levels of exercise and improve their diet.
There is also the chance that a health concern can directly affect an organ. For example, those who smoke are likely to damage their lungs in the long term. Tobacco products can cause damage, so you should keep an eye on these products and limit your use. This article will go over several health concerns, allowing you to see what you should look out for.
Mental Health Concerns
Sadly, there are many variations of mental health concerns that an individual could be forced to deal with. The causes of these mental health concerns could be environmental or a disorder that has been prevalent since an individual was a child.
When discussing mental health, the one that you may have heard the most about comes from depression. The main symptoms of depression include feeling incredibly low and losing pleasure in some of your favourite activities/hobbies. Another common symptom includes feeling more tired or irritable and having problems with sleeping or concentrating in general. Those who are depressed will be plagued with negative thoughts and constantly feel low and worthless, as well as criticise themselves and generally lack confidence.
A generalised anxiety disorder refers to being overly worried about a variety of matters. You may take one worry and make it more excessive and out of proportion to a particular situation. In general, you may struggle to control your worries, and start to feel restless and tense. It has similar symptoms to depression in that it can make you feel irritable and low, preventing you from doing the things you usually want to do.
You are more than likely familiar with panic attacks, but did you know that a panic disorder can cause them? A panic disorder can lead to recurring panic attacks. Even more, a panic disorder could lead to anxiety about having another panic attack. A major symptom of a panic attack is an increased heart rate. Some believe they are about to have a heart attack, as that is what it can feel like. You may have a panic attack because of a situation you have gotten into. Some may have an irrational fear, and being faced with that puts them into a panic. Those who suffer a panic attack may change their behaviour based on something that happened.
There are other mental health concerns, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you suspect that you have any mental health issues or want more clarification, you should speak to your doctor. Consult a relevant expert, as they will be able to give you personalised advice and help you through any concerns. A therapist can help get to the root cause of the problem, and there will be specific medication that can help.
Skin Conditions
Several skin conditions could be cause for concern and will be something to look out for. One skin condition that is common comes in the form of acne. Acne is prevalent amongst teenagers in the UK, eventually fading as they reach adolescence. With that said, it can affect anyone.
Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions in the UK, with it affecting many children and adults alike. There can be different variations of eczema, but you should be aware that it is not contagious and is a dry skin condition. In most cases, the skin will be itchy and sore and could be cracked in some way. Inflamed skin could become red, purple or grey, depending on the colour of your skin.
Psoriasis is a common and non-infectious type of skin condition that affects millions of people across the world. You will be able to recognise it by the symptoms. Symptoms of psoriasis include red and flaky skin and crusty patches of skin covered in scales. It will cause the skin to shred and could also affect your nails in some way. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body will attack its own skin, leading to increased skin cell production. It may be best to contact a GP or dermatologist. They will be able to prescribe topical creams and ointments that can help to relieve symptoms.
Rosacea is a skin condition that mainly affects the face. It is found to be more common in women and those with fair skin. If rosacea does appear for a man, then the symptoms could be more intense and harder to deal with. It initially causes redness across the face. This will be across the chin, cheeks, forehead and nose. You may also notice swelling around the eyes, particularly around the eyelids. Genetics can be a leading cause, but environmental factors could also play a part.
Environment And Pollution Issues
A more recent concern that people are aware of and trying to combat comes in the form of environmental issues. In particular, pollution. The sad reality is that there isn’t much we can do to combat pollution, as it will be up to the government and corporations to lower their emissions and reduce pollution throughout factories and the industrial industry.
Sadly, those in lower-income areas could be faced with more environmental risks. You will notice a difference in the quality of the air when you go from a city or industrial area, to the outskirts and more rural areas. There are three main conditions associated with air pollution. They are respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Some experts also believe that dementia and diabetes could also be linked.
Being exposed to high levels of air pollution over a long time can cause these issues to develop. Even exposure to high levels of air pollution in a short amount of time could severely affect those with health concerns. Those who are more susceptible to health issues would be in real danger.
When we discuss environmental issues, we don’t just mean pollution or the state of the planet, we also refer to society. There are issues within society that mean those that are on lower incomes might not be able to get the help they need and may suffer specific health issues based on their sex or race. Where they physically live is also a consideration.
Depending on where an individual lives, there may be increased waiting times to see a doctor or some distance to get to any health facility. It may also depend on the time or day that you’re trying to seek help. Government policies and changes within society can dictate the health of a population either directly or indirectly.