Medical Conditions You Might Have and Not Know It Yet
There are many medical conditions that affect people of all ages that are commonly written off as less-complex things. For example, people commonly write off hypertension as stress. Understanding the symptoms associated with these medical conditions can help you recognize the signs that you may be suffering from one. The best thing you can do is to get help early before the condition progresses, leading you to have a fuller, healthier life.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common medical conditions that people suffer from and write off as simple stress. However, anxiety is a more serious condition that can actively interfere in your ability to manage daily life tasks. Anxiety can lead to tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, inability to focus, and migraines, among many other things. Anxiety is easily treatable by speaking to your doctor. If you feel your stress levels have become unmanageable, it never hurts to make an appointment to determine if you have the medical condition of anxiety rather than simple stress.
Depression
Many people feel a sense of sadness, isolation, loneliness, or a lack of interest in life’s activities and are unaware that they may be suffering from depression. Some people also believe there is still a stigma associated with depression and they should be able to simply “handle it.” That is not the case. Recent depression statistics reveal this disorder affects millions of Americans with the rate among men and women being almost even. The important thing to remember is that it is a serious medical condition that can lead people to retreat from everyday life and take no joy in activities they used to love. However, it is very easy to treat depression. By simply talking to your doctor about the feelings you are having, you can combat the symptoms of depression with success.
High Blood Pressure
Also called hypertension, many people suffer from high blood pressure without realizing it due to the fact that symptoms are only very noticeably present after blood pressure reaches a very high level. His can be avoided by simply getting your blood pressure checked regularly by your physician or any of the free blood pressure machines. If untreated, high blood pressure can greatly increase a person’s chance of serious issues like heart attack, stroke, kidney issues, and heart failure.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a rapidly growing medical condition that many people are suffering from without realizing it, especially type 2 diabetes. Their pancreas isn’t producing the proper amount of insulin. According to the World Health Organization, 422 million adults currently suffer from diabetes. You can easily decrease your chance of diabetes by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and managing your weight.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Many people find themselves with regularly upset stomachs and consistently blame it on basic things like food or alcohol. However, you may be suffering from a GI condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or severe chronic heartburn. Talking to your doctor about your stomach issues as well as keeping a log of various flare-ups and symptoms will help you determine if you have a simple upset stomach or a more serious GI condition.
Asthma
Many people have symptoms regarding their chest and breathing patterns that they don’t realize are actually symptoms of asthma. Asthma occurs because people with sensitive airways can become inflamed, leading to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Many people can go on for years suffering from asthma symptoms and never realize it’s treatable with the proper medication.
Whether it’s high blood pressure or another common medical condition, there’s a chance you might have it and not be aware. It’s important to have regular medical checkups in order to detect these conditions sooner rather than later.
