Getting younger is a blessing. We love seeing our grandparents, parents, and friends live longer and happier lives. While we enjoy the benefits of youth as much as anyone, it is important to know the facts about superyouth.
Do you know what superyouth is?
It is often described as being in excellent health, with an absence of chronic disease and physical handicaps. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines superyouth as being “at minimum, 19 years old and under no chronic diseases.” When we are young, we are in good shape. We have the energy to exercise and eat healthily. We don’t need to worry about eating disorders or struggling with our weight. We are strong and sturdy and don’t worry about what might happen in the future. The problem is that while this is normally the case, it is not always true. Many of us are not prepared for the rollercoaster of health that is youth, and we suffer as a result. This is why it is important to learn about the dangers that superyouth pose to themselves and their families.
Here are some of the facts about superyouth:
Higher Hospitalization Rates
The rate of hospitalization for people aged between 14 – 24 is three times that of an adult. While this may not seem like a problem in itself, it can be when you consider the additional medical costs. People have to spend more time in hospital than they would in a care center, which means additional nursing costs. Further, a lot of the conditions that lead to hospitalization in young adults have a much more serious effect on younger populations. Pneumonia is one example, with the highest rates being among infants and toddlers. In fact, it is the fourth most common cause of death among children under the age of five. Hospitalization for asthma is also on the rise, as is hospitalization for anxiety and depression. The fact that so many people are struggling with these mental health issues only adds to the problem. These are all conditions that can be easily treated with medication and therapy, but without careful management by professionals, the financial burden can still be extremely high. The good news is that many of these diseases have clear-cut, if often complicated, courses of treatment. As a result, the outlook for superyouth is often much brighter than that of their adult counterparts.
More Mature Brains
It has been shown that the brains of people aged between 14 – 24 are much more developed than those of an adult. This is in part because we are exposed to a lot more knowledge and learning opportunities as children. However, it is also important to recognize that this doesn’t always translate to better mental health. It is still very common for individuals in this age group to suffer from depression and anxiety. In fact, in some regions of the world, there is a much higher prevalence of mental health issues among people aged between 14 – 24 than among adults. This might be because they are facing a lot of stressors in their daily lives, and it is still common for children to be burdened with the responsibility of caring for younger siblings or parent figures. It is also much more common for adults in some regions to be affected by mental illnesses, which might be due to various factors including climate, lifestyle, or economic stresses. These are all important considerations if we are going to prevent these illnesses in the future. If we want to keep the mentally “young’” of our society healthy, we need to continue providing quality learning opportunities for young people and shielding them from the negative effects of stress, whether that is economic, environmental, or otherwise. We also need to make sure that adults are able to cope with the stressors that they encounter and that appropriate services are available to help them.
Longer Lives
Thanks to progress in medical technology, the world has become a much safer place to live. This has enabled people to live much longer, healthier lives than in previous generations. While we are extremely grateful for this development, it has also thrown up some major problems. As life expectancy increases, the number of people reaching old age increases as well. The result is an exponential rise in the number of people posing a financial and social burden. It is important to remember that many of these elderly people were not ready for the challenges of an advanced age, and it is this group that is most affected by issues such as falls, incontinence, and pressure ulcers. These are just some of the geriatric syndromes that affect people as they get older. If we want to continue to enjoy the benefits that an increasing life expectancy brings, it is important to develop healthy habits early on. The best prevention strategy for these problems is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and eat a balanced diet. It is also essential to stay active and socialize with friends as often as possible. Ensuring that our elder population is cared for and enjoys good health is going to be an immense challenge as the demographic shifts towards an aging society. It begins with each of us, as individuals are the ones responsible for our own health. If we want to keep our bodies and minds healthy as we get older, we need to start early and make sure that our habits are sound. While this might be difficult, it is certainly achievable, and we have the power to do this.