年轻人也可能患有这些老年健康问题
Arthritis It's a common misconception that arthritis is an old person's disease. While osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear, and therefore most common among those over 65, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can be diagnosed at any time. Similarly juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the inflammation of the joints that starts before the age of 16. "The triggers are unknown but something causes the immune system to recognise joint tissues as foreign and attack them," explains Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director for the website Healthspan. ■ What to do: If you experience painful, swollen or stiff joints , see your GP. You may also notice increased tiredness, reoccurring fever, a rash and/or inflamed eyes. "Keep as active as possible to maintain joint mobility," adds Dr Brewer. "And eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, fish, nuts, beans and spices such as turmeric, which may help to ease the inflammation you are suffering." High blood pressure It's true that the risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension, increases as you get older but it can develop at any age, even in childhood. In fact, one in 10 women in their 20s are currently affected, putting them at an increased risk of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. "This number is growing due to the rising obesity numbers," says Dr Brewer. "Obese children are three times more likely to develop hypertension than those with a healthy weight." ■ What to do: Lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to your blood pressure so anyone worried should try to eat healthily, exercise more and cut back on alcohol and salt. See your GP who can check for any underlying causes, for example kidney disease, and prescribe medication if necessary. |