To say most people....

[TinaTeaspoons]

Have a long term health condition by the time they are 40?
DH has UC and RA both diagnosed within 2 years of each other in his thirties. He turned 38 yesterday and gone on a downward spiral despite both conditions being managed well. I think it was because at his party yesterday, he couldn't drink (due to his meds) or dance with the rest of us. Trying to make him feel better and see that many people have long term health concerns which may not be visible.

There is robust research test it most certainly does, on a population level.

Those born in poor Yorkshire towns have a lower life expectancy than average by a couple of years. Statistics for cancers etc are all linked to wealth. There was a study many years ago that linked rising unemployment with a bigger rise in chronic illness.

www.nhsconfed.org/system/files/media/Levelling-up-Yorkshire-Humber.pdf

From that Lancet article about autoimmune disorders (10%, etc). Only T1 diabetes & vitiligo have median age at diagnosis < 40. Median age at diagnosis is probably about 55, otherwise.

I’m in this age group - the people with conditions tend to have had them since childhood eg type 1 diabetes or eczema. A few have developed autoimmune things in their 30 but take medication, it’s well controlled and they are healthy.

I feel like a know a huge number of children with asthma, allergies, reflux issues.

My parents are in their 60s. Nope, nothing.

In laws are in 60s. Nope

Husband is 41. Nope.

My own personal experiences show not the case

I don't know, there are a lot of conditions that are more manageable these days and are fairly run of the mill. But people don't always say what they have so you wouldn't know.
I developed type 1 diabetes at 41 while pregnant.
My sister has PCOS.
My daughter was diagnosed with MS at 17.
My husband had high blood pressure.
My son has ADHD.
None of these are obvious to anyone else though (unless you eat with me and I have to inject myself).
Several friends have high blood pressure for most of their adulthood, one has developed arthritis (late 60s), one has osteoporosis (50s). I know a couple people with fibromyalgia (from their 30s). But I don't know about other people - but if your definition is wide then yes maybe a fair few do.

I'm 53 and have no illnesses, short term or long.

Well I don't know anyone in my immediate family, circle of friends or professional contacts (ranging from babies to 80+) who has any kind of "condition".
I have life, it will eventually kill me, but I have had it since I was born.

Not my personal experience but then you don’t really know do you? Unless you know that person really well, most of these conditions are hidden.

Mental health possibly but not physical in my experience.

All of my circle are in their 40's apart from 1 with longstanding auto immune diseases and another with lifelong issue which requires a knee replacement we are a healthy, if fatter than before, bunch

OP, I sympathise and I think you’re probably right. I did, and DH was diagnosed in his 40s. Not lifestyle-related.

No one outside our immediate circle would know, as our conditions aren’t visible and we are able to live pretty normally. I think this may be far more common than PPs think.

Class definitely counts. Many of my male relatives are builders and have conditions eg arthritis caused by injuries or overwork — that’s very common in manual workers. As with DH and me, you probably wouldn’t know.

Also, I would count asthma, which is very common.

Even 60+ I don't think is absolutely normal. I'm over 60 & have no health conditions. Same for a lot of my friends.

I know very, very few people this would apply to.

Op, I have had eczema / asthma/ hay fever since childhood, so I include those in ‘long term health conditions’ and it seems a fair few in both my abd DH families have one or more of those.

On a totally different note, you say he’s been on a downward spiral, and could not enjoy his party.
Is he getting any support for his conditions other than drugs? Are there online support forums where he could find others of his age group with same conditions ? Do you think he is heading for depression?

Also, did he want the party ? Or in hindsight would he have preferred a different celebration where his challenges were in focus so much?

Sorry you are both experiencing this, it’s young to feel so bad.

Not most, but many. A recent paper in the British Medical Journal (Stagg et al, 2022) suggested that over a third of working-age people have at least one chronic condition. The risk of course increases with age.

I wouldn't say so either. My friends are predominantly mid to late 50s and apart from a few aches and pains and menopause related issues, I can't think if anyone with ongoing health issues.

We have seen quite a few cancers in recent years though

Generalising somewhat but middle-class/well off tend to take better care of their health. Don't smoke or drink to excess, follow a relatively healthy diet (and can afford to eat more healthily) and exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Plus, many of those people will have private health insurance, which means conditions can be treated sooner so that they don't become 'long term health issues'.

There’s also the lack of injuries caused by manual work!

Yep, this too

I was born with a long term health condition. Interesting to see how many people feel like it's a mark of privilege to not have to declare the likes of me in their network.

50+ and no health issues here. I do have a friend who has developed type 2 diabetes and another with a lung condition ( as a result of SARS) but other than that, all my circle are a pretty healthy bunch

45 and apart from depression I have no ongoing medical issues. I know one person who got cardiac issues in his late 30s due to stress and undiagnosed high blood pressure putting too much strain on his heart over a long period of time. But that's it.

Yes I think so, in my experience. Out of my group of 5 friends in their 30s, one has RA, one has epilepsy, one has bipolar, one has severe treatment resistant depression, and one doesn't have anything! I work in social care and am realising that so so many people have invisible disabilities, at any age.

People who have money are not necessarily higher class and vice versa.