Top 6 Most Common Health Issues In Adults

As we get older, certain medical conditions become more common; at Dr. Sarrimanolis, our team of medical professionals is committed to keeping you safe and healthy.

Here are the most frequent health issues we see on a day-to-day basis in the practice, and some of the ways we treat them. 

High Blood Pressure

One of the most common issues we see at our practice, high blood pressure occurs when the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough to potentially cause health problems— notably, heart disease. Men and women over 65 are more likely to develop high blood pressure, but numerous other factors can increase the risk, too. 

Cutting back on unhealthy foods and alcohol, while focusing on exercise can help get you back on track. 

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that affect the function of your heart and include a wide array of conditions such as abnormal heart rhythms, coronary artery disease, and other heart defects. 

Since this is such a vast topic, there is no one size fits all solution, but things like diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, drug abuse, and stress can all contribute. Take your heart health seriously.

Diabetes

In simple terms, diabetes refers to a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood. The most common types are type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 typically develops at a young age and occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin.

Type 2 can also develop at any age, but it is more common among people who are 40 or older and is oftentimes correlated with obesity. 

While there is no way to prevent type 1, there are ways to manage it, and with type 2, there are steps that can help prevent the disease from occurring such as a balanced diet, routine physical activity, and weight loss. 

Gastrointestinal Disease

This group of diseases refers to anything that impacts the gastrointestinal tract: Gastrointestinal disorders include such conditions as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, perianal abscesses, anal fistulas, perianal infections. 

Treatment for gastrointestinal disease is focused on helping the digestive system. We recommend resting and drinking plenty of fluids, eating food that is easy on the stomach, and, of course, consulting with a medical professional about a long term solution.

Heartburn 

Heartburn, or acid reflux, is a physical condition in which acid from the stomach flows backward up into the esophagus. This means heartburn symptoms, including a burning pain in the chest and an acidic or bitter taste in the mouth.

While over the counter meds can be helpful for mild heartburn, adjusting diet, losing weight and avoiding lying down after a meal can also be beneficial for treating uncomfortable symptoms.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., so it’s critical to pay attention to colon health. In most cases, this cancer starts out as small precancerous collections of cells. For the most part, these cells produce little to no symptoms, so it is recommended that you schedule regular screenings to ensure your colon is healthy.

We provide colon cancer screenings for our patients, so you can detect any cancerous cells before it’s too late.

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Knowledge is power, make sure you’re staying in charge of your health. This means knowing what health issues you are currently experiencing, which ones you are at risk for, and knowing the causes and symptoms of the more common health-related concerns. 

We’re here to make that process a bit easier. For all of your health needs, give us a call in Fairbanks, Alaska at (907) 451-1174.

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