Multiple Health Problems—
How Are They Related?
Why should I be concerned about having more than one health problem?
Some health problems can raise your risk of problems in other parts of your body. Take a look below to see if you may be at risk for other health problems:
Diabetes (high blood sugar) can lead to serious health risks. It can harm blood vessels throughout the body. This can lead to heart disease, loss of eyesight, kidney failure, and even sexual problems. It can also raise the risk for depression.
- Obesity can lead to heart disease, sleep problems (such as sleep apnea), type 2 diabetes, and joint pain. But losing as little as 5% to 10% of your body weight can cut these risks!
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) raises the risk of heart disease, including heart attack. In turn, this can cause heart failure.
- High LDL ("bad") cholesterol is linked to blood vessel problems throughout the body. Too much "bad" cholesterol raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems.
- Depression can raise the risk of heart disease. It can even result in increased blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Treating one health problem can sometimes help another one. For example, managing diabetes can also help lower your risk of heart disease. Talk to your doctor about how your treatments can help your overall health.
