Millennials are at a higher health risk

Millennials tend to suffer from behavioural health conditions than physical. A new research conducted by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) suggests the health hazards. 

BCBSA is a federation of 36 separate United States health insurance organisations and companies. Their analysis suggests that millennials may be substantially less healthy as they age. When compared to the national population, millennials are more affected by behavioural health conditions than physical, with the highest increases shown in rates of major depression and hyperactivity.

Although millennials may seem to have a greater investment in health and wellness than generations before them, findings from the BCBSA suggest millennials will be substantially less healthy as they age.

The report defines the following as the top 10 conditions affecting millennials, ranked by adverse health impact:

•    Major depression
•    Substance use disorder
•    Alcohol use disorder
•    Hypertension
•    Hyperactivity
•    Psychotic conditions
•    Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
•    High cholesterol
•    Tobacco use disorder
•    Type 2 diabetes

According to Dr Vincent Nelson, vice president of medical affairs for the BCBSA, "While the top 10 conditions affecting millennials are not necessarily surprising, what is shocking is the prevalence rates for each of these conditions in millennials when compared to rates for previous generations,". 

Millennials aged 34 to 36 in 2017 were 11 percent less healthy than Gen Xers aged 34 to 36 in 2014, and had a double digit increase in diagnoses for eight of the top 10 health conditions.

Despite the BCBSA analysis, most of the 55 million millennials (83 per cent) surveyed in 2017 considered themselves in good or excellent health. 

"Because significant health challenges are rising among millennials earlier than in previous generations, we must address these issues now," said Nelson.

Source: Internet