All kinds of people suffer from all kinds of illnesses and injuries that can affect our lives in differing ways, causing us to spend time in bed recovering, taking a variety of medicines and undergoing physiotherapy to help us to recover. Weakened immune systems and even the environments we live in play a huge role in the illnesses and diseases that strike us down, while physiological factors play a big part in how “injury prone” we are.
We all know people that seem to be unwell all the time, we might even be that kind of person, but sometimes there is absolutely nothing we can do to prevent it. We can, however, treat the ailments in the majority of cases and reduce the effects they have on our lives.
Here are just 3 examples of common physical ailments that force us back to bed, to phone in sick or to cancel our plans:
Diabetes
The human body creates a hormone called insulin, with a primary function of regulating the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, lowering blood sugar levels. When the body is unable to produce enough insulin to help regulate the levels, glucose starts to develop and your blood sugar is subsequently too high to use it in the right way and this is a clear sign of diabetes.
There are two main types of diabetes, known as Type One and Type Two. The first kind affects around 10% of those with diabetes and develops when insulin-producing cells in the body have been damaged or destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin. Type Two diabetes is when the body is still producing some insulin, but not enough to regulate glucose levels, and this affects the remaining 90%.
Asthma
Another highly common ailment is the respiratory condition known as asthma. Caused by an inflammation of the airways, asthma is a long-term condition that can cause a cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. When a person comes into contact with something that ‘triggers’ their asthma, such as dust, dampness or excessive physical activity in some cases, the muscles around your airways tighten and cause your airways to narrow. The condition can be treated with the use of inhalers but ‘asthma attacks’ – a more severe version of the appearance of asthma symptoms, can result in calling a doctor or going to hospital for treatment.
Back Pain
Backs are a common cause for concern for many people who can feel tightness in the muscles in their back for a variety of reasons ranging from the position they sleep in to the way their skeleton is constructed. Sometimes the pain goes away quickly, on other times it has to be carefully managed and may involve lying flat on a hard surface until the pain subsides.
It can be treated using physiotherapy and using hot or cold pads, but If the pain persists then you should consult a doctor, visit a hospital or search for New York City pain management online – or similar for your location – to find the best treatment.