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The health risks people face change as they get older. And that’s important to know. While most of the messaging from public health officials aims to reduce mortality and sickness in the older age range, there are a host of issues that affect the younger generation. And, as you might expect, they are radically different.
Here are some of the health risks that most affect the under-40s.
Depression
Depression is a major risk in our society. According to data, just under 10 percent of people of high school age attempt suicide.
Warning signs of depression include social isolation, a sense of panic or entrapment, anxiety, anger, rage, and sleeping too little.
Vehicle Accidents
Young people are also at a much higher risk of automobile accidents. A high proportion of those under the age of forty die in collisions, usually because someone is not following the rules of the road.
Motorcycle accidents are particularly dangerous and occur much more frequently for young people than regular car collisions. Many young people find themselves having to go to a motorcycle accident lawyer to get compensation for lifelong injuries they sustain.
Risks tend to be higher for young people for several reasons. Drunk driving and DUIs is one major cause, but there are many others. For instance, younger people are less likely to wear a seatbelt than those who are older. They are also much more likely to speed or drive too close to the car in front of them. They also have less experience so they are more likely to get into dangerous situations on the road. They may have slower reflexes in certain rarer situations than more experienced drivers.
STIs
STIs are another major health risk affecting a large proportion of the population under forty. Around half occur in people under the age of 24.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to understand the risks. Make sure that you always use a condom and other methods to protect yourself.
Smoking
Smoking is another leading cause of sickness and suffering in the under 40s. Many young people imagine that lighting up is something that will only affect them when they are older. But it is something that can severely damage their health even if they are otherwise fit and healthy.
The same goes for vaping. Initially, health officials believed that it was safer than regular smoking. However, it now seems to come with a host of its own problems, including lung injury.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders typically show up in adolescents and then affect people throughout the rest of their lives. In many cases, they are fatal disorders because of the way they affect behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Common signs of an eating disorder include rapid weight loss, frequent restriction of food intake, regularly taking body measurements or stepping on the scale, sneaking food, or eating large portions quickly. Emotional signs include things like mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Some people develop swollen lymph nodes on the neck from self-induced vomiting, a sore throat, or a hoarse voice.
