There has been a “striking” rise in the number of young people needing medical procedures typically associated with old people, according to an analysis of 60,000 operations by private healthcare company Bupa UK released today.
Haemorrhoid removal and varicose veins were two of the most common procedures among 26-35 and 36-45 year-olds. And knee and back operations are now more common among the 36-45 age group than any other.
Even millennials (16-25s) are increasingly undergoing knee operations, and they’re now one of the top five most requested procedures among this age group.
Dr Iley puts the alarming rise down to our stressful lifestyles. The “always on” nature of modern living has led to the emergence of “Generation Stress”, he said.
Dr Iley recommends we slow down, look after our mental health, ensure we’re getting enough sleep and take enough time to “relax and unwind”. As Dr Iley rightly reiterates, most of us in our 20s and 30s have decades of life left ahead of us, so it’s worth paying attention to our health and cultivating good habits now, before it’s too late.