Happy and healthy now, but worried about the future

 

28 March 2001

 

People are feeling healthier than ever before, accordingto a major new survey into the health of the nation commissioned by BUPA.However, growing old and diseases associated with old age top the list ofhealth concerns.

 

The majority of people questioned (70 percent) feel thatthey are healthy for their age. They believe that this is due to a rarecombination of factors such as better access to alternative therapies andhealthcare information via the Web. Six in ten people make a point of lookingafter their mental health. Spiritual wellbeing is becoming increasingly important,with just over half (52 percent) of the people surveyed making an increasedeffort to look after the spiritual side of their life. This represents a riseof 17 percent in just one year.

 

However, the real worry that many people have today iswhat will happen to them when they are older:

        More than twice the number of men are concerned aboutParkinson's disease this year compared to last (12 percent vs five percent)

        22 per cent of men are concerned about arthritis andrheumatism compared to 16 per cent in 1999

        There is a marked increase in the number of men worriedabout prostate problems (up by four percent), HIV/AIDS (up by three percent)and heart disease (up by four percent)

 

The survey of 1,000 adults in the UK is the latest in anannual series commissioned by BUPA. It also revealed that since last year, lessthan half the number of men and women are concerned about bowel cancer - thesecond biggest cancer killer.

 

Womens' health concerns compared to last year are slightlydifferent to men:

        Breast cancer tops the list of health concerns for women(56 per cent in 2000 compared to 48 percent in 1999)

        28 per cent of women are worried about strokes (comparedto 17 percent in 1999)

        There is a seven percent increase in womens' concernsabout blood pressure, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease compared to 1999

 

Being better informed about health has led to changes inlifestyle choices. Forty three percent of people are always careful of whatthey eat, representing an 11 percent rise since 1999. Well over half the people(57 percent) only drink alcohol on special occasions or just at weekends. Dr.Paula Franklin, BUPA's assistant medical director commented: "The figureson alcohol use suggest binge drinking. One or two drinks every day or every otherday is a far more healthy approach to alcohol."

 

And after these lifestyle changes, a massive 71 percentbelieve they have a healthy, balanced diet and 56 percent are happy with theirweight, despite a national rise in the number of people who are overweight. 70percent also consider themselves to be fairly or very healthy for their age,and 56 percent consider themselves fit.

People also have a real worry about what healthcareprovision will be available to them when they are older, and nearly halfbelieve that the state will not be able to provide for them.

 

Where and how they live when they get older is alsocausing great anxiety. Around 30 percent are worried about getting old andhaving to go into a home, although 46 percent would rather do this than be a'burden' on their family. How this care will be paid for is also a cause forconcern with 39 percent of people worried about the funding aspect of theirlong-term care.

 

Dr Paula Franklin, BUPA's assistant medical director says:"This year's BUPA Health of the Nation survey suggests that people arebecoming more interested in health issues as they arise day-to-day, and aretaking greater responsibility for their general physical and mental wellbeing.However, they have very real concerns about what will happen to them in thelong term. As we live longer, more and more people are thinking about theirfuture and what life will be like when they are older and less able to takecare of themselves."