A British survey has observed that a majority of adults who think they are in good physical condition are actually affected by minor ailments. Some volunteers confessed that they refuse to go to see a doctor and sometimes suffer for more than a decade
- About 82% of respondents admitted to suffering from a slight health problem.
- The British survey observed that some participants refuse to go to see a doctor in the event of a health problem considered “unimportant”.
Adults who consider themselves to be in good health are actually affected by at least four minor pathologies, according to a survey carried out by OnePoll and ordered by the Perrigo company. To reach these conclusions, the English polling institute questioned 2,000 Britons. Nearly 82% of the subjects admitted to having a slight health problem that could be characterized by back pain, headaches or seasonal allergies. Some of the participants (59%) admitted to suffering from significant discomfort or pain due to these conditions.
A silence and an absence of care around minor pathologies
“Even minor problems and ailments can impact our quality of life and the way we want to live, when they really don’t have to be,” said Farah Ali, superintendent pharmacist at Warman-Freed in London, in a press release. More than 8% of volunteers have been affected by these health problems for more than ten years, according to the survey. The lack of care also has repercussions on their daily life: 28% have developed mental health problems, 18% are unable to work and 46% have difficulty sleeping.
The poll also pointed to the taboo around such “minor” health conditions in the UK. According to their results, 57% of respondents remain silent when they develop a pathology. Another fact indicated in the study: 28% of people do not seek treatment because they feel that their doctor does not “seem interested” in their problems. Participants also said that they are unable to get an appointment with their doctor when they want to see him. They therefore prefer to abandon the consultation.
Consult a health professional for prolonged health problems
Even for a condition considered “minor”, it is very important to have the advice of a health professional or specialist. A more serious pathology may hide behind a headache or prolonged pain.
“Your pharmacist is an accessible and excellent first point of contact if you are having trouble getting an appointment with your doctor.”, underlined Farah Ali. Which specifies: “Pharmacists are experts in minor ailments, able to offer solutions. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medications for a range of minor ailments. [guideront] if you need to consult a [médecin]a nurse or other healthcare professional to treat your problem.”
