Gastric ulcers and severe reflux disease in the 20’s, haemorrhoids and abdominal pains in the 30’s and liver disease and cancers in the 40’s. The young are getting conditions that tended to occur in later age. Growing up, it would be rare to hear of someone in these age groups have such ailments but it’s a different story now.
Maybe it’s access to information that leads to a doctor’s visit. Maybe it’s being more aware of one’s own health and not ignoring a symptom that leads to early diagnosis? Maybe it’s fear because you know of someone who passed on too soon. Or maybe it’s time to accept that these things are in fact starting at an earlier age and the last thing you should be doing is thinking is “I’m too young to get this”.
But why is this happening?
At this stage, we don’t know 100% but as with most things, it’s a combination of factors. To blame genetics alone is not enough as the rate of change is too rapid and general aging aside, I think it is what we do to our self that has a large part to play in it all. With this I mean the environment we are in, the diets we have and the lifestyles we lead. Sound like the same old mantra right? Here’s something to chew on.
Gastric ulcers, gastritis and GORD can be linked to a history of increased work stresses, fad diets for slimming, unvetted supplement usage both for bodybuilding and weight loss, fast foods, fried foods and medication use to self-medicate which we tend to go for much quicker now, are much easier to get; quite common in the modern-day young.
Then there’s liver disease. There are links and some very strong links between liver disease and obesity, poor dietary choices, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol excess and supplements including the sorts that claim to be good for the liver and that promote wellbeing. In Malaysia, we are the most obese in South East Asia and with political correctness telling us that having a little “extra” weight is OK, I fear it may be a licence to pushing the limit of “acceptable weight” further.
Shifting to haemorrhoids and abdominal pains. The poor fluid intake, obesity, poor fibre intake and in some cases too much fibre, stress, imbalanced diets, poor toileting habits, erratic eating timing and habits and a sedentary lifestyle all contribute.
The biggest worry is the fact that more colorectal cancers are being picked up in the under 50’s than ever before putting into question the age where surveillance or a screening colonoscopy should happen. Family history aside, increased risk of colorectal cancers are linked to being overweight, the consumption of processed foods, high red meat intake and smoking all of which have become too common in modern-day man. (note: A person born in 1990 has double the risk of developing early colon cancer, and 4x of developing early rectal cancer, compared with someone born in 1950, according to a landmark 2017 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute).
What can you do about it?
First let me say that there are many reasons for diseases and some out of your control for example viruses and autoimmune conditions to liver disease, thyroid disease and raised calcium to constipation, and inflammatory bowel disease and colon polyps to the increased risk of colon cancers.
But there are things we can easily change to reduce the risk and it basically the things we already know but either find excuses not to do anything about or just don’t have the time but I don’t think we can afford that luxury anymore. Start with having the awareness that many diseases are happening earlier and the shorter time you have a condition; the less damage will be done. Of course, prevention or delaying it is another approach that should be considered by removing the factors we can actively change. Start with the simple things, exercise regularly, stop smoking, avoid processed foods, avoid supplements unless prescribed, stay away from fad diets, get enough sleep and so on.
Important to remember of course, if you were unfortunate enough to have any symptoms or experience a change of any form from your usual self even at an early age, see your doctor. Red flag signs can include, weight loss, anaemia, rectal bleeding, abdominal pains, change in bowel habit, jaundice. Trust me when I say we would much rather tell you nothing is wrong than to tell you it’s advanced.
As an end note, modern medicine has made it possible for us to live much longer than ever before and so with that you shouldn’t be expecting to be 40 and falling to pieces.
