Averagely, the life expectancy of Singaporeans are at 83.5 years but it seems that the immunity of youngsters are much weaker. What happened?
Life Expectancy
Although our average life expectancy has increased over the years, we also seem to be falling sick at a younger age compared to our parents and grandparents. In this article, we take a closer look at 3 of the more common critical illnesses.
#1: Heart diseases
In Singapore, the stress levels are high, and with our lack of sleep and/or inconsistent sleep cycles, it increases the risks of heart diseases. Myocarditis in particular, is a condition of heart inflammation that be caused by a viral infection from common viruses such as flu or dengue. But in recent years, it seems to be affecting more and more Singaporeans age 40 and younger ^2 . Why? Because young people usually have stronger immune systems. And when their immune systems sense a bacterial infection, it can create an over activation of immune responses to fight the infection, and in the process also attack our own heart muscles, causing myocarditis.
#2: Stroke
It is the 4 th leading cause of death in Singapore. And in recent years, it is a rising illness amongst the younger population. In fact, an article from Straits Times stated that the incidence rate of stroke of those aged 15 to 29 has risen from 3.8, to 5.7 per 100,000 population in 2019. ^3 So what could be the possible causes?
Smoking doubles our risk of stroke. It increases blood pressure and reduces oxygen in the blood. And tobacco smoke contains over 4000 toxic chemicals which are deposited in our lungs or absorbed into the bloodstream, thereby damaging our blood vessels.
Excessive drinking will certainly increase the risk of stroke, for both ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke.
Poor eating habits: a high sugar/sodium/saturated fats/trans-fat/ cholesterol diet can all increase our risk of stroke.
Poor sleeping habits: insufficient sleep, excessive sleep, poor quality (disturbed) sleep, irregular sleeping time, can also double our risk of stroke (just like smoking)
#3: Diabetes ^4
In recent years, Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise, especially in children between the ages of 12 to 16. In 2016, KK Women’s and Children Hospital reported an increase in newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients from 15 patients yearly in 2005 to 24 patients yearly in 2015. What’s the cause for this increase?
Lifestyle habits: Children in the past played outdoors more. Nowadays, children turn to computer games and social media as their form of entertainment. They are now physically less active compared to the past, thus increasing the risk of diabetes.
Food choices: Children and teenagers are consuming more fast food and sugary drinks which are high in sugar and calories.
How can young people improve their immunity? ^5
A: Healthier lifestyle habits is key
If you smoke and drink heavily, this is a sign to quit and cut. Alcohol and smoking, as we all know, are two of the major causes of illnesses. Limiting our intake of alcohol to no more than 2 drinks for men and 1 drink for women a day can help to reduce our risks of illnesses.
Apart from vices, having a healthy diet can also reduce our risks and improve immunity. Diets that is low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains helps to keep our immune
system healthy, reducing risk of critical illness.
B: Sweat it out!
Exercising regularly can help to improve our immune systems too. Aim to clock in at least 150 mins of moderate physical activity every week. However, do make sure to not overwork yourself and take rest days.
C: Take charge!
In order to take charge, you need to understand your body and medical conditions. Go for regular health screenings once every year or every two years. Know what you are at risk of
getting and take control. If you’re already suffering from conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, make amendments in your lifestyle and seek professional help if necessary.
How well we live is just as important as how long we live. Which is why although it is easier said than done, we should not take our health for granted. Your future (and older) self, will thank you. And as much as we want to, we cannot prevent all diseases from striking no matter how health-conscious we are.
The only thing we can do with 100% certainty is to be prepared:
What does your medical insurance cover and not cover?
When (how sick must you be) you can claim from your insurance?
Does your insurance provide you with preventive health check-ups?
Will your insurance pay you a monthly ‘replacement income’ when you’re sick and can’t work?
How many times can you claim from your insurance, and does it include relapses?
Your future self and your future family (parents, partner, kids) will thank you too.
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