Health problems aren’t usually something to be ignored. While they can be minor and go away after a few days, they can also persist and cause discomfort or other long-term issues if not dealt with. The problem is that not everyone goes to a doctor to get things checked out because they’re embarrassed or don’t realise that the problem can be fixed.
As awkward as it may be to discuss certain ailments, you should never let them fester. Doing so usually makes things worse, making the problem harder to talk about when you eventually receive medical help.
This is especially the case with these five topics, which people often aren’t willing to open up about. There’s generally a lot of discomfort surrounding these topics, but there really shouldn’t be. After all, without enough discussion or education about them, they’ll only prove to be more problematic.
Hair Loss
There are certain things that a person might expect to experience when they grow up. Hair loss is one of these things, with baldness of some kind reasonably common in older people.
However, this isn’t a problem that occurs only with age, nor is it something that’s restricted to one gender. Obviously, certain people are more vulnerable to it than others, with Caucasian men particularly at risk. It’s believed that around two-thirds of UK men are affected by male pattern baldness during their lifetime, the majority of these people being Caucasian. However, hair loss can happen to anyone at any time, which is why it should be talked about more often than it is.
Along with ageing or it being hereditary, hair loss can also be down to hormonal changes, medical conditions, or stress. The latter is something plenty of people are probably familiar with after going through the pandemic. However, given that hair loss affects your appearance, and society seems to value looks as important, it’s still not likely to be discussed. If it were, though, people would realise that it’s relatively common and that there are things you can do to fix it.
Warts
When people think of warts, they often have a very exaggerated imagination. They picture large, dark bumps that sprout hair and attract everyone’s attention.
In reality, warts vary in appearance, but more often than not, they’re not that noticeable. However, they can affect how a person sees themselves, which is why people try to cover them in whatever way they can. They don’t always know that treatments can help get rid of them, and they’ll instead spend months – sometimes years – trying to cope with their blemish.
If everyone realised that warts aren’t usually that big of a deal, they’d probably feel a whole lot better about them. Unfortunately, they’re often seen as spots that are impossible to get rid of, and you probably know what people think of spots.
This is why people should talk about them more often, so no one has to feel ashamed for having one. Anyone can develop a wart, and they’re not something you have to live with forever.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections aren’t uncommon. In 2019, nearly half a million cases were reported in the UK, and those were just the ones that medical professionals knew about. There probably would have been more reported if people weren’t so embarrassed about being diagnosed and treated.
There’s often a lot of shame tied to STIs because people believe they’ll be judged for not using protection or accused of sleeping around. Sex is also a topic that society typically refuses to acknowledge, so many people naturally feel awkward when they have to bring it up with a medical professional.
This only makes things worse, though. If there were better education on the subject and less emphasis on pretending it doesn’t happen, there’d probably be fewer STIs cases. Or, at the very least, more cases being dealt with, rather than people being too embarrassed to get checked out.
For instance, if there was more discussion on this topic, people might realise that you don’t have to penetrate, or be penetrated, to catch an STI. You can get herpes just from your genitals being exposed to someone else’s, no matter what the two of you do together. It’s important to know this, given there’s no cure for this specific ailment.
There are things you can do to treat outbreaks of it, and you can learn more about herpes treatments by visiting Chemist Click. They sell a range of medications that target the virus, along with treatments for all manner of other health problems. However, things like aciclovir and valaciclovir tablets only help to deal with or suppress outbreaks, rather than ridding you of herpes entirely. That’s why it’s so important to try avoid getting it in the first place.
Incontinence
Just as sex is considered awkward and embarrassing to talk about, so too are toilet habits. The thought of opening up to someone, even a medical professional, about issues relating to urination or bowel movements seemingly puts a lot of people off. That’s despite the fact that millions of people in the UK reportedly deal with incontinence.
Again, this is something that’s sometimes expected with age, but there are plenty of younger sufferers too. Their problems might be caused by a blockage, certain medication, stress, drinking habits, or a medical condition. However, despite these simple explanations, people are afraid to open up about it because of the potential judgment. They associate incontinence with wearing catheters or adult diapers, even though there are plenty of solutions that don’t require such measures.
Incontinence of any kind can affect your quality of life, yet people will still keep their issues a secret for years. This obviously isn’t the best solution, especially as it can make things worse, so if you’re ever in this position, don’t be afraid to open up. If this is something that affects millions of people for all sorts of reasons, you don’t need to feel ashamed.
Weight Loss/Gain
Admittedly, compared to some of these other health topics, stuff surrounding weight isn’t necessarily rare. People talk about it all the time. However, what they don’t necessarily discuss is when it’s gained or lost suddenly, and that can be a problem.
If you have an issue with your size and immediately lose a few lbs, you might think it’s a good thing. However, if that happens despite you not eating great or exercising regularly, you may have a significant health problem on your hands. The same goes for if you quickly put on some weight without really trying.
The NHS has a good list of issues that can cause sudden weight loss or weight gain, some of which may be a cause for concern. That’s why it’s so important that people understand that such changes could be a significant symptom rather than something that helps (or hinders) your weight journey. While it might be nothing, there’s always a potential risk, so keeping an eye on your waistline is essential.
Whenever you have a health problem, you shouldn’t be afraid to bring it up. If it stays hidden, there’s less chance you’ll be able to resolve it, so don’t hide it from your doctor. It might be a little uncomfortable to discuss it with them, but they’re there to help you. Plus, they deal with this stuff all the time, so they’re not likely to be phased by anything you may consider embarrassing.