With these generational differences in mind, here’s what physicians wish that millennials (who are currently in their thirties and forties) knew about managing — and optimizing — their health.
1. You’re Not Too Young for Preventive Screenings
But recent survey data suggests that millennials are more likely to forgo screenings than Gen Xers and baby boomers.
“Many millennials operate under the assumption that youth equals invincibility,” says Steven Goldberg, MD, a primary care physician with University of Louisville Health and the chief medical officer at the PCR-testing company HealthTrackRx in Louisville, Kentucky. “Without symptoms, screenings feel unnecessary or even anxiety inducing, and there’s often a knowledge gap about which screenings are age appropriate.”
2. Baseline Health Metrics Matter
It’s difficult to maintain this information without a consistent primary care provider or annual visits, which just 32 percent of millennial men report participating in, versus 61 percent of Gen Xers and baby boomers, in a Cleveland Clinic survey of 1,000 male adults.
Goldberg suggests that millennials get started now by accessing all their test results, even if they’re normal. This data is often available on patient portals, but you can also ask your current and former doctors to send you a digital or physical copy of your personal health file. It’s important to share this info with future providers for continuity of care.
3. Mental Health Is Part of Physical Health
This could be concerning for millennials, who along with the younger Gen Zers, were more likely than those in older generations to report having worse mental health outcomes and partaking in unhealthy coping behaviors, according to a study on mental health symptoms in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Millennials may minimize their mental health symptoms as just stress, rather than recognizing them as treatable medical conditions requiring professional intervention,” Goldberg says.
Goldberg recommends asking your doctor, ‘What’s the single most important lifestyle change for my health?’
4. Burnout Is a Medical Issue
While anyone can experience it, 66 percent of millennials reported moderate or high rates of burnout in an Aflac survey, which is more than other generations reported. “Hustle culture and the pressure to optimize every aspect of life make burnout feel like a personal failure rather than a medical problem, and many millennials work in environments that reward overwork and lack boundaries,” Goldberg says.
5. Small Lifestyle Changes Now Prevent Big Problems Later
6. Metabolic Health Matters Before You Have Symptoms
Millennials may already be experiencing the effects of poor metabolic health. Evidence suggests that this group has a higher risk of diabetes and obesity than Gen Xers.
“Millennials may lack education about what metabolic health means beyond weight, and the absence of symptoms can lead to false reassurance,” Goldberg says.
7. Sleep Isn’t Negotiable
“Sleep is basically a shower for your brain,” Cleveland Manchanda says. “When you get enough sleep, your brain processes information and directs your body in ways that are better for both your physical and mental health.”
8. Wearables and Apps Are Tools, Not Replacements
A survey from CareCredit, a financial company that offers a credit card specifically for health and wellness expenses, shows that more than two-thirds of millennial consumers used wearable health tech or apps to track their health. While these tools can help increase awareness, monitor trends, and motivate behavior change, they can’t replace professional medical advice, Goldberg says.
“Overreliance on apps can lead to health anxiety, missed severe symptoms, and delayed care,” Goldberg says. He recommends tech use for gathering trend data, such as logging steps or activity levels, rather than obsessing over daily fluctuations. From there, pass along any concerning patterns to your physician. “Technology is most valuable when shared with your doctor as additional data, not as a self-diagnosis,” he says.
9. Virtual Visits Aren’t the Only Way to Check In With Your Clinician
Data suggests that millennials prefer quick, convenient, and sometimes virtual medical care. And if telehealth visits weren’t offered going forward, 44 percent of millennials would consider switching providers, according to a 2021 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society survey.
Goldberg points out that virtual appointments can remove access barriers — like needing to take a sick day and commuting to the doctor’s office — for some millennial patients. And physicians generally agree that virtual visits are appropriate for brief or straightforward follow-ups, like medication management.
But consistently relying on virtual visits can interfere with in-person visual cues that a physician may use to inform care. This might be a change in gait that could indicate a neurologic disease, for example.
“Schedule in-person visits for annual physicals, new symptoms you’re worried about, and anything requiring physical examination,” Goldberg says, noting that the provider’s office can help determine whether you should be seen in person if you’re unsure.
The Takeaway
- Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) prioritize convenience and a virtual component when it comes to healthcare.
- Evidence suggests that in comparison to other generations, millennials are less likely to have a primary care physician or get preventive screenings, and have higher rates of certain chronic health conditions, like diabetes and major depression.
- Experts underscore the importance of scheduling preventive screenings, recognizing burnout symptoms, getting enough sleep, and making small lifestyle habit changes to help millennials better manage their health and optimize outcomes.
Read the full article here
