Certain health conditions freak people out and grab headlines around the world. Think about the panic surrounding so-called outbreaks like mad-cow disease and the bird flu that caused momentary fright, but ultimately didn’t amount to much. These sorts of diseases get undue media attention, while other health risks tend not to receive the same sort of sensational coverage. Indeed, most if not all people are at-risk for these damaging health-related conditions, yet many aren’t even aware of them as potential problems. And while tweaking your workout routine and adding vegan meals to your diet is great, neither will help you gain insight into some truly appalling diseases. So, in order to help you take better control of your well-being, here are four dangerous health risks that tend to fly under the radar:
Radiation Sickness
We’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of radiation’s effect on the body. While radiation does well-and-truly allow for some critical medical and technological advancements, the negative side effects to prolonged radiation exposure are varied and horrifying. Often, the degree to which radiation sickness will affect a subject depends on how long and how severe their exposure to the radiation was. So while industrial accidents and nuclear facilities carry greater risks, even relatively innocuous devices that emit radiation could still exhibit some threat.
STDs
During the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and early 90s plenty of ink was devoted to STDs in general and AIDS in particular. People were confused and understandably worried about the nature of this new disease, and misconceptions still abound about how STDs can be spread. One big issue in regard to sexual wellness is that most people assume that if they don’t notice any symptoms, then they must not have an STD. That’s not the case, though. In fact, many STDs can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time, and the only way to know for sure if you’re STD-free is to visit a professional testing clinic. Otherwise, you could be opening yourself up to a whole host of potential issues.
Brain Aneurysms
Like the mythical thunderbolt, massive brain aneurysms typically occur without warning and leave little recourse for those stricken. What makes this possibility all the more frightening is that more often than not, no symptoms manifest themselves in the build-up to an aneurysm. Indeed, people can even live with minor aneurysms for years and not even realize it. Moreover, aneurysms can happen to anyone at anytime. Freaky.
Alcohol
Glorified everywhere from Super-Bowl advertisements to frat-house parties, alcohol is nevertheless a killer. Unlike tobacco, which has received an onslaught of negative PR for the better part of four decades now, the alcohol industry continues to operate with relatively few restrictions, despite the fact that around 90,000 people die from alcohol-related deaths annually. And that’s not even beginning to factor in the long-term effects of alcohol dependence. Plain and simple, the truth about alcohol abuse is sordid and ugly.