The Most Common Health Issues That
Affect People’s Wellness
There are many different types of health issues that impact the wellness of
individuals. These range from physical issues like body mass index appeal-democrat.marketminute, obesity and
smoking to mental health problems and unique health conditions. These aspects of
health are all important for a person’s overall wellness and should be addressed to
prevent diseases and illness from affecting them.
Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease, or heart disease, is the leading cause of death in America.
It’s a serious, life-threatening condition that can be prevented through changes to
diet, lifestyle and routine screening tests. The most common screenings for
cardiovascular disease include cholesterol screenings, glucose screenings and c-
reactive protein screenings.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that can develop in the lining of the breasts, but it
also can spread to other parts of the body. It’s a significant concern, especially since
women are more susceptible to it than men.
Psychotic Disorders
Depression, schizophrenia and delusional disorders are all mental illnesses that can
affect the mind and have a devastating effect on the patient’s quality of life. Often,
these illnesses go undiagnosed and undertreated.
Allergy
As the name suggests, allergies are a problem for people who are allergic to certain
substances, such as pollen, dust and pet dander. They can be very uncomfortable
and interfere with everyday activities. To help alleviate these symptoms, a person
can use antihistamines.
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
Lung disease, or bronchitis and asthma, is a major public health concern because
these respiratory conditions can make breathing very difficult and lead to other
problems, such as wheezing and coughing. These conditions can lead to long-term
disability and are costly to treat.
Foodborne Illness
About 1 in 6 Americans gets a food-related illness every year, with $15.6 billion
spent on treatment each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Although these illnesses aren’t as severe as those caused by infectious diseases or
vehicle accidents, they can be very expensive to treat and are often life-threatening.
Zoonotic Diseases
Mosquitoes, ticks and mammals carry a variety of diseases that can be passed to
humans. Some of these are lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
ehrlichiosis, rabies and West Nile virus. Taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites
and tick bites can help prevent these illnesses.
Vaccine Misinformation
A large portion of the United States population is wary of vaccines. This hesitancy
has impacted the country’s ability to protect its citizens from the flu and other
diseases, as well as to ensure herd immunity in the event of future pandemics.
This isn’t just a medical issue; it’s also an economic one, as people who don’t receive
the recommended vaccines are at greater risk for contracting diseases that can be
deadly. This is an area that public health officials are taking an active role in,
promoting vaccinations and making sure all citizens have access to them.