Prevent severe health problems and correctable consitions from robbing you of overall mobility, health, and wellbeing. Knowing how to identify health issues in their early stages can help you prevent them from becoming significant problems.
healthandbeautyresource.wordpress.com gathered information on the following common health problems, how to identify them, and how to fix them before they cause severe or life-threatening problems.
1. Obesity (Corpulence)
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that eventually presents a risk to one’s health. If your body mass index (BMI) is over 25, you are considered overweight, and when it surpasses 30, you are considered obese. Carrying this excess weight can lead to severe medical problems with grave consequences if not controlled in a timely manner.
Symptoms – Symptoms of obesity typically include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleep apnea
- Daytime drowsiness
- Back and joint pain
- Excessive sweating
- Heat intolerance
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
Note: Some symptoms are so mild that they are challenging to recognize in their early stages.
Contributes to – Obesity is taken very seriously as it is associated with declining mental health and a significantly reduced quality of life. Obesity is associated with the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, which include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer.
Recommended Treatment – Obesity is controllable and reversible when acknowledged as an illness and treated appropriately. Some treatments that may be prescribed to you include:
- Healthy eating plan
- Regular physical activity
- Changing your habits
- Weight-management or exercise programs
- Weight-loss medication
- Bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgeries)
- Special diets planned specifically for your needs
Tip: Changes in your physical activities (exercise) or your diet should be closely monitored by your primary care physician, bariatrician, or prescribing doctor.
Doctors to Consult – Doctors that specialize in and treat obesity are referred to as bariatricians.
2. Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus)
Diabetes occurs when your body cannot regulate the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Carbohydrates from food are broken down to produce glucose, causing the blood glucose level (BGL) to rise.
Symptoms – The following symptoms may appear or occur with other illnesses and should be examined by your healthcare provider to determine their cause.
- Urinate a lot, often at night
- Constantly feel very thirsty
- Lose weight without trying
- Dehydrated skin
- Frequently feel very hungry
- Experience numb or tingling sensations in the hands or feet
- Frequently feel very tired
- Experience an abrupt vision change or blurred vision
Note: Diabetes may also cause you to develop dark patches of skin and may cause you to heal more slowly than usual.
Tip: Diabetes symptoms should be examined and treated by your primary care physician when they occur.
Contributes to – Diabetes is often associated with and may potentially lead to:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
- Kidney damage (nephropathy)
- Hearing decline or impairment
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Eye damage (retinopathy)
- Foot damage
- Some skin conditions
Tip: When caught and treated in its early stages, the effects of diabetes can be minimized.
Recommended Treatment – Treatment for type 1 diabetes often involves insulin injections, frequent blood sugar checks, and carbohydrate counting. Treatment of type 2 diabetes involves significant lifestyle changes, monitoring your blood sugar, diabetes medications, and insulin.
Doctors to Consult – An endocrinologist is a doctor with special training and experience in treating diabetic patients.
3. Drug & Alcohol Abuse (Substance Use Disorder)
This condition involves the excessive use of psychoactive drugs, like alcohol, pain medications, or illegal drugs. This (illness) can lead to physical or emotional harm.
Symptoms – Common symptoms of drug abuse include:
- Problems concentrating or thinking clearly
- Memory problems/loss
- Involuntary eye movements/twitching
- Lack of inhibition
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Lack of coordination
- Irritability or mood swings
And common symptoms of alcoholism include:
- Drinking alone or in secrecy
- Feeling hungover when not consuming alcohol
- Dramatic changes in appearance and group of acquaintances
- Making excuses for drinking
- Choosing to drink over your responsibilities and obligations
- Becoming increasingly isolated and distant from friends and family
- Experiencing temporary blackouts and/or short-term memory loss
- Exhibiting signs of irritability and extreme mood swings
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year referral and information service available in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Reach them by calling (800) 662-HELP (4357) or visiting findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Contributes to – The side effects of substance abuse often include:
- Increased or decreased heart rate
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Aneurysms
- Muscle control disorders
- Memory loss
- Chronic sadness, anxiety, and/or fear
- Respiratory problems
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Lung disease
Prolonged substance abuse can result in chronic illness, multiple organ failure, hospitalizations, and death.
Recommended Treatment – Your doctor may prescribe a medication or recommend a treatment program to help you cease your substance abuse. However, prevention continues as the better option and may include:
- Deal with “life” pressure
- Seek help for mental illness
- Maintain a well-balanced home, work, and family life
- Deal with or eliminate peer pressure
Note: Different treatments or deterrents may be required for different people and may require multiple attempts before any level of long-term success is attained.
Doctors to Consult – Addiction doctors or addiction specialists identify, diagnose, and treat substance use disorders.
Common Health Problems
In this article, you discovered several common health problems, how to identify them, which doctor to consult, and how to prevent them from becoming significant issues.
By being proactive in the early identification of medical problems, you can take steps to prevent more severe side effects or complications from robbing you of your quality of life.
Ignoring the early symptoms of medical and health conditions may lead to declining quality of life, restricted mobility, diminished cognitive ability, hospitalizations, and death.
Sources:
hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes-mellitus-an-overview
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112
alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/warning-signs/
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