Here are the next three that are all concerned with mental health problems. It does make worrying reading.

12. Depression: With many individuals losing their jobs and homes, depression is becoming more and more common. Symptoms include feelings of helplessness, loss of interest, changes in appetite, change in sleep patterns, fatigue, and more. Treatments can include medications, counselling, and lifestyle changes.
13. Anxiety and Panic Disorders: When anxiety, panic, or stress affect your everyday life, it is time to check with your doctor to see if you have a disorder. These are different from depression and must be treated as such. Different types of this disorder include panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive, phobias, and others.
14. Postpartum Depression: This type of depression occurs in women who have recently given birth. It typically occurs in the first few months after delivery, but can happen within the first year after giving birth. The symptoms can also interfere with the mother’s ability to bond with her newborn.

OOPs sorry forgot to sign in yesterday, but anyway here are the next three of the 21st century ailments that are beginning to worry me, I am ticking so many!

15. Bipolar Disorder: This disorder is marked by severe highs and lows that can interfere with everyday life. At times it can even be dangerous. It usually begins in teens and young adults, equally affects all races, and can sometimes be connected to hormone levels.

16. Dysthymia: This is another mood disorder. People who have it may feel mildly depressed on most days over a period of at least two years. Their symptoms resemble major depression, but with less severity.

17. Seasonal Affective Disorder: This mental disease has symptoms that are seen with many major depressive episodes. The symptoms occur during certain seasons and define this type of depression. They can be related to summer, the holidays, or slow economy.

Three of the biggies today!

18. Smoking: Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of death in the United States. It is estimated to account for 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths. Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing several types of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease

19. Alcohol: Abuse of alcohol manifests in unusual cravings, loss of control, physical dependence, and increased tolerance. Individuals with a family history of alcohol abuse are most at risk. Although there is no cure, it can be treated with counselling and a variety of medications.

20. Drug Abuse: In addition to alcohol or tobacco, someone affected by the slow economy may turn to cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, meth, or prescription medications. According to MedLinePlus, each year drug abuse results in around 40 million serious illnesses or injuries among people in the United States. It can also lead to homelessness, crime, or problems with keeping a job.

While there might not seem at first glance to be any reason that cancer will increase with a depressed economy, stress is a major contributing factor in causing cancer, and early detection is a major preventative. When stress is up, and fewer people have access to regular healthcare because of layoffs and cuts in benefits a certain effect is increased cancer.

21. Skin Cancer: The most common type of cancer according to the National Cancer Institute is nonmelanoma skin cancer, with more than 1,000,000 new cases expected in the United States for 2008, representing about half of all cancers diagnosed in this country. Warning signs include changes in moles, birthmarks, or beauty marks and chronic spots or sores.

22. Lung Cancer: Including bronchus, new lung cancer cases in 2008 were estimated at 215,020. Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal cells and can form tumours. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and many others.

23. Prostate Cancer: In 2008, an estimated 186,320 men were diagnosed with this disease. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the cure rate for prostate cancer is very high, with nearly 100% of men diagnosed at the local and regional stages being disease-free after five years. Screening can be performed quickly and easily in a physician’s office using two tests: the prostate-specific antigen blood test and the digital rectal exam.

These are the last two of the top 25. They make very sobering reading and if any of them apply to you, see if you can't address the causes a bit, have a think about lifestyle etc.

24. Breast Cancer: 182,460 estimated women and men were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Among the many risk factors of this cancer are age, family history, high oestrogen levels, being overweight, and more. Women at higher risk should consult their doctor on more frequent screenings, risk lowering drugs, and preventive surgery.

25. Colorectal Cancer: Colon and rectal cancers are estimated to affect around 108,070 individuals in 2008. Individuals at risk for this cancer are over 50, have developed polyps, a high fat diet, family history, or have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Depending on the type and stage, treatments can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and monoclonal antibodies.
An individual who has lost or may lose their job might consider cancelling their health insurance to save money. Many experts warn against this as these 25 conditions and others can be very costly to diagnose and treat. If you think you may have one of these health problems, see your doctor right away.