Personal health issues which, when allowed to go unchecked and multiplied by millions of suffers, have the potential to influence society for the worse. Unfortunately, many people don’t monitor their health and indulge in self-destructive behaviors. Sometimes they are indifferent to how their behavior affects others and sometimes they are preoccupied with other things.
At times, this self-neglect only affects them; at times, it just affects their family; and at times, it affects strangers. Often this self-neglect is almost unconscious. For instance, a mother who smokes while pushing a pram and taking the dog for a walk is not only ruining her own lungs, but also putting her child and pet at risk, as well as anybody they walk by.
Let’s take a look at some instances where neglecting personal health issues can have a negative social impact:
- Sleep Deprivation.
The failure to get a good night’s sleep may appear to be an entirely personal issue. However, a lack of sleep certainly contributes to thousands of car crashes, accidents in the workplace, and other types of accidents every year. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can affect your level of awareness during the day. If you have difficulty falling asleep, then your room could be too bright; so draw the curtains and turn off all electronics. Sometimes, too, it could be your mattress. A certified natural organic mattress is one of the most comfortable and healthy mattress options available and an ideal choice for a good night’s rest.
- Alcoholism.
On the surface, drinking appears to be a personal choice. However, it sets an example and influences impressionable people around the drinker. The reason drinking beer is so popular, for example, is not because its tastes uncommonly good–it’s an acquired taste that shocks most people when they first try it—but because advertisers spend millions promoting it, because movies feature hard-drinking heroes, and because it’s become a shared societal vice when people get together. While some people are immune to the influence of other people drinking around them and some people only drink moderately, the preponderance of alcoholism in the United States is far higher than most people imagine.
According to The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD),”Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems.”
If you do drink too much, then it’s advisable to ask for professional help. Going cold turkey only works for a small percentage of people; but, for most people, the cravings eventually become too powerful to resist.
- Mental Health
Psychological issues are the most frequently neglected type of personal health issues. Your words, your moods, and your behavior affect others. In the case of psychosis, society usually steps in, but many people face deep psychological issues that are not clinically severe enough to warrant any kind of intervention. While depression and anxiety are common issues, with almost everyone experiencing some amount, these issues can escalate over time if nothing is done to mitigate the underlying cause.
When severe, mood disorders need professional help to find the source of emotional angst. Denying the severity of these issues can cause all sorts of associated problems, with the most common being weight issues. People who are overweight or obese may tend to eat comfort foods to quell their sense of despair or quiet desperation. These health issues then put them at risk for hypertension, coronary heart disease, and respiratory problems. They are also at risk for colon, prostate, or breast cancer. There are physical interventions to help the weight loss process, thereby reducing the risk of the related health issues.
Other issues like PTSD, suicidal idealization, road rage, etc, also need professional help to mitigate as they can escalate into behavioral problems that have a severe impact on other people.
- Addictions
Addictions have become such a common phenomena that they have almost become normalized. Tobacco addiction, substance abuse, and other addictions often arise as a strategy for self-medication. Since the body gets used to the effects of mood altering substances, more is needed to have the same results (known as developing a tolerance). In time, too, the body becomes chemically-dependent on certain substances, resulting in withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to use will power. Often professional assistance is needed to help break a serious, chemical-based addiction.
In many cases, personal health issues can be resolved through an act of will to take better care of yourself. However, in some severe cases, they may need to be addressed with clinical help. If neglected for too long, personal health issues can escalate and this usually leads to serious health or heavy social consequences down the road.