Millennials Are Not As Healthy As The Previous Generation
Posted on: 1 May 2019
The millennial generation is made up of those who were born between the years 1981 through 1996. This means they range in ages from 23 to 38. While they are younger than those in Generation X, it might be surprising to find out that they are not as healthy as the previous generation. In fact, more millennials struggle with certain chronic conditions that those in Generation X may not. Some of the conditions they struggle with include:
- Crohn's disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
Millennials are more inclined to be diagnosed with substance, alcohol, or tobacco use disorder. They are also more likely than those in the previous generation to be diagnosed with mental health disorders, including depression and other psychotic conditions. These types of conditions not only decrease their quality of life but they lower their life expectancy as well.
Millennials Are Less Likely to Go to the Doctor
One of the reasons millennials may not be as healthy is they don't maintain a relationship with a family physician or primary care doctor (PCP). According to a recent study, 45% of millennials don't even have a PCP. One of the reasons for this is that instead of being preventative about their health, they wait until they get sick and then see a doctor. After seeing a doctor, they want a quick fix and want to get better right away.
Oftentimes, convenience is also a factor, and they would much rather go to the walk-in clinic. Because they are tech-savvy, some millennials try to diagnose themselves by using the internet and then use supplements or other types of natural remedies to get rid of their symptoms. This is not optimal, however, because if they were to have a serious medical condition, they would need to start treatment as soon as possible in order to have the best possible outcome.
Other reasons millennials are less likely than those in the older generations to go to the doctor include:
- They can't afford health insurance
- They would rather do virtual visits over their phone or email a doctor instead of seeing one in person
- They would rather not take time off of work for a doctor's appointment
- They do not go to doctors who have received a bad online review
If physicians want to establish a relationship with millennials, it would be in their best interest to make it as convenient as possible, as well as affordable. This may be the only way to help millennials become healthier.
Reach out to a family physician near you to learn more.
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