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“It Gets Romanticized”: 50 Medical Issues That Are Far Worse Than People Think
As you age, you realize that health is probably the most important thing in life. Hence the memes about discovering marathons, juice cleanses, and chia seeds once you hit 30.
In reality, people tend to start worrying about their health once something is really wrong. According to a recent survey by Aflac, one in four Americans skip regular checkups and wellness appointments because they feel well at that moment.
However, there are many symptoms or conditions we tend to overlook as harmless. It turns out that many of them can have detrimental effects to our health, as became evident after people started sharing things in the thread of "What is a medical condition that is more serious than people realize?"
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#1
Depression. May not be the medical but mental side more really. It’s also a silent k**ler. Check in on people once in a while it might actually save a life.
_oooOooo_:
And honestly, it's so serious bc people have no idea what it actually is. They think its laying in bed all day crying. But it's so much more insidious than that. It's chronic fatigue, no interest in the regular things, it's irritability, it's pain, it's isolation, which can lead to major issues like sadness, loneliness, hopelessness and s*****e. It really is a silent, easily masked k**ler that more people need to know about. Being disinterested in everything isn't normal. But its fixable if you know!
Ellinor 2 days ago (edited)
And when people learn about some side of depression like not brushing your teeth or showering for months, not changing your clothes or having a bedroom in a state of pure filth, they act all disgusted and say that "but how did you let yourself go that bad?". Well I don't know Janet, probably Depression !
RELATED:
#2
Having chronic pain.
People just can’t image never having a break from being stuck with pain… and how it affects basically anything in daily life. Directly and indirectly.
From systemic sleep deprivation to a full blown depression and all sorts of other health risks.
The Darkest Timeline 2 days ago
I had shingles about four years ago and I thought to myself, “If I had to live with this sort of pain all the time, I have no idea how I’d enjoy anything.” It only lasted about 3-4 weeks. So, to those of you who have any type of chronic pain, I offer my sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy.
#3
Autoimmune disease. It’s painful, silent and not easy to diagnose.
johnstonb:
It takes ON AVERAGE 10 years to get diagnosed after the onset of symptoms. In the meantime doctors are completely dismissive of your symptoms. You are tired because you are “depressed”. Your hair is falling out because “stress.” Meanwhile you feel like you’re going crazy.
ChefCarolina:
I lost 6 years of my life, was put on every anti-depressant/anti-psychotic medication, was diagnosed as Bipolar, and was eventually locked up in a mental institution.
All because it never occurred to my doctors to check my thyroid.
EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇩🇿🇵🇸 2 days ago
It took 20 years and multiple miscarriages to get diagnosed with sle. They made it seem I was making it up.
#4
Migraines, they can be totally debilitating and increase the likelihood of other serious neurological disorders.
faithle97:
I literally had one so bad I was begging for my husband to drive me to the hospital because I thought something had to be horribly wrong. I’ve had migraines off and on my whole life but that one came out of nowhere, was my first one with aura, was the most intense one I’ve ever felt, and had me puking nonstop for about 5 hours before my husband came home from work. They ended up doing stroke testing at the hospital because of how severe and different that migraine presented compared to all my previous ones. I was on hormonal birth control at the time and the ER doctor told me to stop taking it immediately even though all my stroke testing came back negative.
takethepain-igniteit:
My husband has had chronic almost daily migraines for almost 20 years. It's debilitating! His life revolves around how his head feels. It's the worst during the summer months, he spends days to weeks in our bedroom with blackout curtains drawn and an eye mask on. I feel so horrible that I can't help him. He's tried numerous medications, injections, supplements, diet changes, etc and nothing helps. He's seen all different types of doctors to try to nail down the cause but no one can figure it out. I can't imagine being in the amount of pain he is in most days, but he is still the nicest, most positive person I know.
ynyrhydref56 2 days ago
Yep. And no, it's not the same as a headache. I say to people that migraine is a whole body experience.
#5
ADHD. It's definitely commonly recognized and treated but I don't think most non-ADHD people truly understand how frustrating it is living with it. Your whole life revolves around it, because unless you're always keeping it in check, you can't live in normal society, and it's f*****g exhausting having to always be hyper aware of everything you do. Your productivity, your memory, your sensory perception, all of that, is by default, hindered permanently compared to a neurotypical person, but unfortunately, most things are built around neurotypical capabilities (working 9-5, etc.) and it's so mentally draining to force yourself to adapt to that culture.
Meds and good habits help but they can only do so much. No matter what you do or take, you will sooner or later fall into a cycle of procrastination, of forgetfulness, of "ADHD paralysis", of sensory overstimulation, and it f*****g sucks because it's so difficult to explain to people. It's become so normalized that most people, at least the ones I've talked to, think you're overplaying it or that it's not that big of a deal.
#6
Anxiety. The stress on your body causes SO many other issues.
Lorraine Woollands 2 days ago
I have had depression and anxiety for most of my adult life, my parents never understood. I used to get comments from them like" straighten that face,,or she's sulking again, or things like talk to people,they think you are rude"
#7
In my opinion: Anorexia nervosa.
It is the deadliest Mental disorder and (at least in Germany) you need to be underweight to get treatment.
And it gets f*cking romanticized nowadays and in the past - especially in girls. (And guys don't get taken seriously if they have it, so everyone is f*cked).
Rachel Reynolds 2 days ago
As some one with and ED, Yes. And it doesn't really go away (at 45, I still get triggered)
#8
Being knocked out with a blow to the head. TV and movies treat it like a nearly harmless off-switch. In reality, if someone loses consciousness due to head trauma it should always be treated as a medical emergency.
Ace 2 days ago (edited)
This should be higher. If you've lost consciousness, even for a second, then you have a concussion, that is literally what it means, Symptoms may not appear until hours later. There have been several celebrity deáths as a result on an untreated blow to the head in an accident,.
#9
Endometriosis— Some women feel Level 10 pain every month and have to miss school and work because they can’t get out of bed.
embarrassedburner:
Widespread nerve pain in various body regions, lung collapse, urinary, digestive, menstrual, sexual, reproductive, cognitive, mood, and fatigue symptoms. People have no idea how debilitating this disease can be.
Robert Beveridge 2 days ago
I have a roommate who has it so bad it qualified her for disability.
#10
Pregnancy.
creepyging923:
It seems like people forget that women still regularly die while pregnant and during child birth.
#11
Thyroidism, hypo or hyper. It impacts the heart, the lungs/breathing, mental health, weight, hair and nails, etc. if you're feeling super tired, out of breath doing usual task, heart palpitations, please demand a full thyroid panel. They will try and push TSH. This test only catches levels at the time of blood draw. Demand the full panel looking at T3, T4, TSH. It's treatable with a pill a day.
#12
CPTSD. It isn’t just a mental illness, it can alter your genetic expression and is basically severe nervous system injury/dysfunction resulting in a host of bodily issues and physical disorders that often leads to a shortened life span.
#13
Tinnitus.
Kitchen_Beat_9965:
100% I developed this 2 months ago and haven’t slept more than an hour a night since. It’s absolute hell. People commit s**cide from it and I understand why.
PeepPeep the duck 3 days ago
I worked at a hearing aid place for a while (ampliphon), if you can get to an audiologist for an assessment, we will ask questions about it before you go in and see them, to see what scale end you’re on, hearing devices can help with really bad tinnitus but you have to wear them as prescribed and not as you want etc, it can take a few months but your brain will start rewiring per say
#14
Type 1 Diabetes. A lot of people have no idea that you will die without insulin.
orbit99za:
Type 1 diabetes
It really is an invisible fight.
You need injections up to 3+ times a day to survive.
You had better get your calculations right, because insulin is so potent. If wrong, you have literally k****d yourself.
People confuse it with Type 2 diabetes and blame it on bad eating habits.
In all honesty, they should have named it something else.
Source: Type 1 diabetic.
"Disembodied voice" 2 days ago
Also remember that type 2 diabetes isn't just from bad eating habits, genetics and some medications are big factors.
#15
PCOS. While it's not disabling, the symptoms have dominated my life since puberty and into my 30s and foreseeable future. It's not just irregular periods and intense pain when it comes. It's nearly 2 decades battle with acne that is more than "you need to wash your face and use topicals". It's endless frustration being told that to get rid of it I must lose weight, not understanding why the same diet and exercise regiments weren't working for me as for my friends only to learn at 30 that PCOS gives me insulin resistance and I have to eat less and completely different. A battle to look normal.
And I don't even have the infertility struggles and hair growth issues that other PCOS sufferers have to endure.
#16
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Anyone that has it will agree. People who don’t understand it think it’s like the type or osteoarthritis that comes with age and just wear and tear on your joints but it’s actually a serious autoimmune disease and affects tendons and ligaments and vital organs as well as joints. It’s a debilitating and progressive disease and treatment with serious DMARDS or biologics is not optional. There’s no cure and it’s a lifelong battle with treatments that cause side effects and suddenly stop working.
It’s not just sore joints.
Very frustrating but don’t see the ignorance or attitude changing in the near future.
AtMostAFabulist 1 day ago
I have RA and this is where I learned the difference between fatigue and just being drowsy.
#17
Dehydration. It can impair brain function and cause organ failure and death. It’s also easier than you think to become dehydrated.
#18
High blood pressure. We don’t call it “the silent k**ler” for nothing.
Secure-Persimmon-421:
Oof, for real! I left my hypertension undiagnosed and untreated for numerous years. No one thought it was true for me bc I was “so young to have high bp” in my early and mid 20s. But heart probs run in my fam and I had all the high-rick behavior. When I got on meds, it was a game changer and I feel so much better.
Peeka_Mimi 1 day ago
I may have hypertension. I was at the VA and my BPM shot up to 166. They wouldnt let me go until I stabilized. Which I did with propranolol. I suspect it's POTS and have an appointment with a cardiologist on 10/17/25.
#19
Epilepsy.
People think my life isn't being impacted just because I'm not currently having a seizure. That's not the only symptom. It's so common, yet people generally know nothing about it.
Dread Pirate Roberts 2 days ago
Mine is idiomatic. I wonder if they'll ever figure out the cause for cases like mine. I'm very fortunate that the medication I'm on has kept it under control for nearly 20 years.
#20
Alcoholism. In a LOT of circles getting completely hammered every single night of the week is seen as common place and even amusing. The physical health aspect alone is disastrous not to mention the mental mental health piece is completely nightmarish. I got out of it before things got too bad for me, but I was easily heading down a road you don’t want to be on. Quitting drinking 100% saved my life in more ways than one.
April M 2 days ago
It got so bad for me, black-out drunk every night for about a year. I ended up in the hospital, unconscious and yellow. Had many procedures, surgeries, etc., during a 7 month stay in the hospital. Learned to walk, talk, eat, write etc., again. Please get help to anyone that's struggling!!
#21
Pneumonia. It still k**ls a lot of people.
#22
Allergies.
Wild Cream 2 days ago
I’m not allergic to anything. My twin sister is allergic to everything 😅 I feel so bad for her
#23
Sleep apnea. Not gonna be able to breathe in one night and that’ll be the end for you.
Fit_Elk_1269:
Sleep apnea !! A lot of people brush it off as just snoring, but it can seriously mess with your heart, brain, mood, and overall energy. Left untreated, it raises your risk for stroke, heart disease, and even memory problems. It's more than just being tired ,it affects your whole body.
Alarmed-Extension289:
Sleep Apnea, it pretty much affects you and your partners quality of life.
Colleen Glim 2 days ago
My husband got a cpap after a sleep apnea diagnosis six years ago. Game changer. I no longer want to smother him in his sleep. He sleeps better because he’s not jerking awake multiple times an hour. I sleep better because I’m not trying to sleep through snores that would register on the Richter scale
#24
Chronic stress. It wreaks havoc on the body. Mixed with poor sleep. You are asking for increased chances of stroke, heart attack, chronic conditions, obesity, addictions (food/smoking included) and it leads to depression which can worsen sedentary lifestyle and then it’s just a mess. Take good care of yourselves friends! Be in nature, drink water, w**d out toxic people, don’t let people make you feel guilty!
Colleen Glim 2 days ago
Hustle culture is so bad for us as people. I hope everybody can one day be able to take a day off work and not have to worry about it impacting wages. I know Europe has this mostly sorted. Sadly, North America doesn’t. Especially the US
#25
Dental care. The smallest thing can exacerbate into full blown health crisis.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 1 day ago
And (at least in the U.S.) dental “insurance” is a joke. I’d like to do something to whoever decided teeth are not part of your overall health.
#26
HPV. Can cause cervical, uterine, ovarianand esophageal cancer. But it's commonly looked at as "most people get it at some point in their life, it'll go away on its own in a few years"
And HSV (herpes/cold sores) can be deadly for babies.
Colleen Glim 2 days ago
Get your HPV vaccine ladies. I don’t want any woman to have to go through what I went through. Rare version of cervical cancer. Surgery, chemo, and radiation. 0/10. Would not reccommend
#27
Lyme disease. Doctors in my country are just starting to take it seriously.
Far-Prune-5343:
Failed lyme treatment after 20 years of undiagnosed Lyme has left me with multiple impairments, ranging from hearing loss to arthritis and chronic pain. I started trying to get a diagnosis for my mystery illness as soon as it started but got no result til 2023 when a neuro finally tested me for Lyme. I've spent thousands upon thousands and lost countless days of life to this condition. People have no clue how debilitating Lyme is unless they've experienced it. I'm sending all my best wishes for good days to you. I'm sorry you're experiencing the brutality Lyme causes.
Rachel Reynolds 2 days ago
I know this is about humans, but my father's dog just died because of lyme disease. Pets are susceptible too. He's a bachelor, so it;s hard on him.
#28
Mold exposure/toxicity. Which leads to parasitic infections, candida, heavy metals, SIBO…not even most holistic docs will touch it or understand it, either….
Science Nerd 2 days ago (edited)
When house-hunting after a major flooding event, one house we were shown was being treated for black mold. Dropped off our list immediately.
#29
OCD. Have watched it paralyze bright people and their families and create physical, social, and financial illness.
It is under-diagnosed and even when diagnosed, exceptionally hard to treat without highly specific therapy approaches most people can’t access. We have not found the d**g target for it.
I wonder often if eating disorders (especially severe AN) and a few other somatiform psychiatric conditions (like Munchausen and those with chronic, undiagnosable ailments) are OCD by another name.
It’s very real and very damaging, and its power is under-appreciated.
#30
Melanoma. It’s deadlier than breast cancer yet people don’t take it seriously.
KeeksGalore:
My grandmother died of melanoma. It was a very long and painful process.
I also had my first melanoma (stage 2) at 17 (back in 2003) and at the time there were less than 50 documented cases in the US in people under 18. I’ve actually been referenced in many medical journals and textbooks which I hate.
geezeronthehill 2 days ago
Staying out of the sun between the hours of 10 and 4 is a wise idea.
#32
BPD.
Effective-Fudge5985:
It is statistically the deadliest personality disorder. Most people attempt to commit s**cide within 5 years of their diagnosis. People can downvote me to hell idc. I'm damn near an expert in this subject so they can take their projection and ignorance and vote away!!! It won't change facts.
Clare 1283 2 days ago
It's often the most misunderstood personality disorder as well, not helped by TV shows. Most people think we're either making it up or we're psychopaths. It's not nice to live with and there is no quick fix. Most of us are also aware we're not easy to live with.
#33
Trigeminal neuralgia. It is described as one of the most painful diseases known to medical science. It can be different for everyone. It’s pretty rare so many neurologists and neurosurgeons can go their entire career and never encounter a patient with it. It can feel like electric shocks through your head, or an ice pick in the ear. Stabbing sharp or drilling dull. It can be accompanied by a chronic migraine. Some people can’t eat or drink because it’s too painful. Even a light breeze can trigger an attack. It’s progressive so you can’t just get better on your own. Many times the d***s work for a short period of time or don’t work at all. Surgery is your only hope if it is viable. Some surgeries can last for 5 years. It’s not going to be the thing that kills you medically, but it is known as the s*****e disease.
emily_harvey116 2 days ago
I've had 2 brain surgeries for it in the last 3 years and I still have pain. Plus, the last surgery cost me my hearing in my right ear. The pain of a TN attack is indescribable and unpredictable.
#35
Most mental health disorders, especially those who have more than one and are undiagnosed/untreated. I feel like many people brush it off like “haha I feel so depressed” but mental health disorders can be so dangerous and silent if the person is good at masking them.
Maisie Bramble 2 days ago
I have two diagnosed mental disorders (Generalized anxiety disorder and autism) and probably more undiagnosed. Yeah, it's pretty bad.
#36
High blood pressure needs to be treated and lowered right away.
It’s a ticking time bomb and many people are content to just accept they have it.
#37
Sepsis. Many think it’s just a bad infection, but it’s a life-threatening response to infection that can lead to organ failure and death if not treated quickly. Early signs like confusion, rapid breathing, or extreme chills should never be ignored.
SnackbarKaat 2 days ago
I had it as a toddler, the doctor my mum went to lost his baby boy to it. So he recognized it.. poor man
#39
Type II Diabetes. Have known people who were undetected or thought they were borderline until they had other associated issues, like heart attacks or kidney issues!!
#40
Heartburn...
Can cause throat cancer.
lil_squib:
I used to have GERD so bad but have thankfully been able to control it through diet changes and making sure I don’t overeat very often. It’s a hellish condition.
Katiekat 2 days ago
I used to be super morbidly obese -- lost 200 lbs over the years -- and as soon as I hit 315 pounds, all heartburn just stopped. Such an oddly specific number, but the body is weird. And then I realized just how much antacids I had at home and in my vehicle! I now have heartburn maybe 2-4 times a year, which my doctor says is normal.
#41
Being overweight by too much.
FuzzyInterview81:
Yes, Obesity even mild obesity, made worse by over processed food options and lack of exercise. Will cause type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and extra strain on the heart, lungs, and liver. Cholesterol. . .
A very first world issue.
#42
Arthritis- of any kind.
#43
Urinary Tract Infections. Lots of elderly people end up with broken hips or even blood infections that begin as UTIs.
Becca not Becky 2 days ago
If an elderly person is acting more confused than normal, first thing to rule out is a UTI. Untreated, it can become sepsis.
#45
Progressive Scoliosis.
Sniflix:
That's ruined my life. My pediatricians were informed of it by school and sports doctors and said "aw it's nothing". I just had my 6th back surgery plus 6 joint replacements because my effed up spine destroyed my gait which led to osteoarthritis throughout my body. This is from decades ago so those doctors are long gone. That's good because I would un-live them and end up in prison.
Colleen Glim 2 days ago
Had back surgery at 17 for scoliosis. This was in the mid eighties. Remember even medical schools have bottom of the class graduates
#46
Psoriasis. When diagnosed I thought it was just a “rash” of sorts. Oh, how wrong I was. I miss that ignorance and bliss.
#48
Narcissistic personality disorder.
Affectionate_Bug8166:
Will never see my mother again because of this.
Peeka_Mimi 1 day ago
My psycho ex (who has d**g induced psychosis, alcohol induced epilepsy and liver scarring) is a malignant narcissist. He was a*****e and evil to the core. He called the cops on me again last Friday saying that I chased him off his porch with a knife. Yeah I've never been in NoCal in my entire life. I sure wish he'd go away. He threatens me all the time and we broke up 7 years ago. Get over it freak!
#49
ICU nurse here! Here’s some that people honestly don’t think about:
1. High blood pressure. As your blood pressure continues to be elevated your body adapts so you don’t feel the side effects meanwhile your arteries are just waiting to burst. I’ve had patients with a BP of 230/110 and be like “that’s where I’m usually at” with no headaches or anything. F*****g wild. A cough/sneeze away from a hemorrhagic stroke.
2. Diabetes. Same thing with BP. I have patients who live in the 400-500 and when I bring their sugars to 200 they become symptomatic for hypoglycemia because their body is so accustomed to hyperglycemic states, that trying to bring it to normal makes them feel all the classic hypoglycemic symptoms. It destroys your arteries and veins too because your blood becomes molasses and the sugar compounds are “sharp” and can cause microvascular cuts and tears.
3. Changes in bowel habits: this can be a plethora of causes ranging from bacterial/viral/parasitic causes, to cancer, to bowel obstruction (had a patient with a severe ileus and was vomiting feces), etc. Also had a friend who had one of the GI surgeries for weight loss, started having abnormal bowel habits a year later, ended up with a volvulus and by the time they caught it he was full blown MODS and died 24 hours later.
4. Atrial fibrillation. Patients just think it’s an abnormal heart rhythm but it can cause so many f*****g problems. It can cause your heart to create clots and throw them into *any* artery. Most common is heart attack and stroke but any artery is susceptible to infarction. Had a guy die in my ICU, uncontrolled a fib, threw a clot to the mesenteric artery, caused his bowel to die, eventually his bowel ruptured and died of MODS.
5. Melanoma. Can be very malignant and stealth. Very important to get yearly skin checks, wear sunscreen, and early treatment.
Becca not Becky 2 days ago
MODS: multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Most often related to advanced states of shock. Once you get far enough into MODS, you're a goner.
#50
Juvenile arthritis. The constant inflammation can be destructive. It can also cause uveitis. It's a hell of an invisible ailment.
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Batwench 2 days ago
Reading this I should be dead by now. However, the immortality experiment is going well, despite my own body trying to sabotage it.
Batwench 2 days ago
Reading this I should be dead by now. However, the immortality experiment is going well, despite my own body trying to sabotage it.
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