Despite millennials having a greater investment in health and wellness than previous generations, findings from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association suggest millennials will be less healthy as they age.
This article teaches you about 8 challenges millennials face, their causes, and how they can help themselves.
8 Major Health Challenges Affecting Millennials
According to the report, these are 8 top conditions affecting millennials;
● Major depression
● Alcohol use disorder
● Hyperactivity
● Hypertension
● High cholesterol
● Tobacco use disorder
● Substance use disorder
Dr. Vincent Nelson, vice president of medical affairs for the BCBSA, said what is shocking is the increasing rates of these conditions in millennials compared to rates for previous generations. For instance, millennials aged 34 to 36 in 2017 were 11% less healthy than Gen Xers aged 34 to 36 in 2014.
Mental Health Conditions Affect Millennials the Most
When compared to the national population, millennials are more affected by behavioral health conditions than physical ones. They also have the highest increases shown in rates of hyperactivity and major depression.
Dr. Nelson said while we may be seeing moderate diagnosis impact across all generations for previously stigmatized behavioral health conditions, millennials are experiencing higher growth in prevalence than either baby boomers or Gen Xers.
Deborah Serani, PsyD, professor at Adelphi University, said the prominence of these conditions doesn’t surprise her. She also said these contributing factors could be responsible:
● Technological advances
● Everyone wins mentality
● Media overload
● Undefined work schedules
● Two-income households
How Millennials Can Help Themselves
Nelson said millennials could help themselves by seeking preventive care to get proper diagnosis and treatment before a condition becomes life-threatening.
However, the BCBSA survey discovered that one-third of millennials do not have primary care providers. Furthermore, most millennials only visit a doctor when sick or something is broken.
How Healthcare Can Change to Help More Millennials
To better understand the fall in millennials’ health across all illnesses, Nelson said BCBSA held sessions with companies across the country. He said these were the takeaways for addressing current millennial lifestyles:
● Millennials want to be met where they can access their own convenient care and health records.
● Millennials would prefer working in an environment that addresses their behavioral health and its underlying issues without stigma.
Conclusion
Millennials are plagued with more health challenges than the generations before them. However, you can avoid these issues with the right treatment and care.
