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What medical conditions seem more common now than when you were growing up?

(37 Posts)
CrazyUSA Thu 23-Jul-26 17:43:20

gender dysphoria

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 17:45:09

Hernias

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 17:45:19

Acid Reflux

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 17:45:45

Thyroid problems

Cancer

Oreo Thu 23-Jul-26 17:46:34

Dementia

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 17:47:53

Diabetes

Primrose53 Thu 23-Jul-26 17:48:04

Sepsis

M0nica Thu 23-Jul-26 18:17:37

I do not think they were under reported just under talked about. There used to be what was considered a decent reticence about discussing health problems.

Cancer was seen as a death sentence, so not discussed, acid reflus, was called indigestion and dealt with, often unsuccessfully with Rennies and equivalents.

There was certainly much less Type 2 diabetes. We know that. Dementia was a bit like indigestion some old people went a bit doolally and were looked after in the family. Of course, a shorter lifespan meant that many people died before they suffered from it.

The other thing is that there are now remedies for so many of these diseases. There are far more effective drugs for acid reflux, thyroid problems.

In 1950 life expectancy was 69. In 2025 it is 82. That is an increase of 23 years. However part of this is accounted for by the fall in infant mortality from 32 per 1,000 births in 1950 to 2 in 2025

valdali Thu 23-Jul-26 18:49:03

Allergies and stress.

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 18:49:32

There was certainly much less Type 2 diabetes

Thyroid?
Cancer?

I only remember one case of Cancer when I was growing up. Woman in her 40s. People were shocked.
She lived, thankfully.

valdali Thu 23-Jul-26 18:49:58

Autoimmune disorders (over & above the proviso that they were not understood & recognised when I was growing up but some, like MS, certainly did exist.)

fancythat Thu 23-Jul-26 18:50:00

And sepsis.
That seems newish as new as from 10 years ago onwards.

joannapiano Thu 23-Jul-26 18:52:25

Obesity. When I grew up in the 50’s most people, of all ages, were fairly slender.

Norah Thu 23-Jul-26 18:55:54

Cancers, diabetes, dimenentia, osteoporosis.

MT62 Thu 23-Jul-26 19:13:25

New knees

MT62 Thu 23-Jul-26 19:14:33

Three friends all go on about their Spinal stenosis

valdali Thu 23-Jul-26 19:26:37

My gran must have had osteoporosis. She was under 5' when I knew her (from 60 onwards). She had 11 children carried to term on an insufficient diet.

She was crippled up & bent & had no teeth, but she wasn't diagnosed with osteoporosis - she just used to say "it's the rheumatics, the doctor can't do anything."

Fallingstar Thu 23-Jul-26 19:28:11

Autism and many other mental health issues.

valdali Thu 23-Jul-26 19:33:14

Gosh yes, definitely autism.

Plevey08 Thu 23-Jul-26 19:35:54

Multiple autoimmune diseases
Inflammatory bowel problems
Depression and anxiety
Obesity
Migraine
Sepsis
Hemaroids

SpinDriftCoastal Thu 23-Jul-26 19:44:27

Slight change of subject but I remember my parents saying that people had had a nervous breakdown. I also remember people being alcoholics but with visible signs like very red, shaking etc. My mother knew an elderly lady who she referred to as being senile. My grandmother and godmother were weeks in hospital having their cataracts removed. This was all early 60s.

MawsRosie Thu 23-Jul-26 19:49:55

Plevey08

Multiple autoimmune diseases
Inflammatory bowel problems
Depression and anxiety
Obesity
Migraine
Sepsis
Hemaroids

Oh haemorrhoids existed OK only they were called piles!

Casdon Thu 23-Jul-26 19:50:59

Anything gynaecological used to be bundled up as ‘women’s troubles’, and spoken of in hushed tones.

Fallingstar Thu 23-Jul-26 20:13:37

Casdon

Anything gynaecological used to be bundled up as ‘women’s troubles’, and spoken of in hushed tones.

Yes, periods were ‘that time of the month’ and the menopause was ‘the change’ which were never discussed and so didn’t exist.

greyfur Thu 23-Jul-26 20:26:33

Hip and knee replacements. I never knew anybody with these. Nor my parents' generation.

Athsma.

ADHD