Modern health hazards

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One of the greatest achievements of the later 20th century was a huge increase in life expectancy. Some of the reasons for this were the development of antibiotics, having a supply of clean water, having a better system for removing dirty water and the improvement in living standards. Now, however, there are new dangers to health, and these are often more difficult to cure because they are not physical. Read on to find out more.

1  Time-poverty syndrome

This health hazard is caused by trying to do too much in too little time. Many people feel that they are never in control of their lives. This can cause stress, depression and finally burnout.

2 Multitasking

The second health hazard is connected to the first one. Lots of people go out to work, look after their children, manage a home, do leisure activities and socialise. They have to do a lot of these things at the same time. They never find the time to stop for breath. This is called “multitasking” and it can be a danger to your health.

3 21st-century syndrome

If you are tired, irritable and often have stomachaches or headaches, you might have a 21st century stress disorder called adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue means you can’t cope with stress. The adrenals that produce the hormone that helps us to deal with short periods of stress are not working properly.

4 Screen-based addiction

Doctors warn that watching television for more than two hours per day when you are young can lead to learning difficulties and a loss of concentration. This kind of entertainment can also make people fat. They eat “TV snacks” and do not do enough physical exercise.

5 Gaming addiction

Computer games can be so addictive that some people do almost nothing else. The danger here is that these people no longer take part in everyday life but escape into a dream world.

6 Electromagnetic sensitivity (EMS)

More and more people are being affected by the “electrosmog” that is all around us today. They may get muscle aches, headaches, heart problems and stomachaches, especially when people live or work close to mobile phone masts, for example. There is not enough scientific evidence to prove that the eloctrosmog is a danger to our health, but there is also not enough research into the effects of so many electrical appliances on people.