Life expectancy in the UK is longer than it has ever been. A baby boy born today can expect to see his 76th birthday and a baby girl her 81st. Compare that to a life expectancy of 45 for men and 49 for women at the turn of the 20th century and on first impressions at least, it would seem a phenomenal improvement. But are we actually healthier?

The population of Great Britain may have been living longer, but some of those extra years have not necessarily been lived in good health. Men can expect on average to spend the last 61/2 years in poor health whilst for women this period is nearer 111/2 years and many of the years in between may be plagued with health concerns that, although not life-threatening, do undoubtedly affect its quality. Galloping consumption’ and double pneumonia’ were common ailments whilst granny was growing up. They are terms that we simply don’t hear in 2007, but let’s take a look at some of the illnesses which she would never even have heard of.

Tired all the time

Being tired all the time’ is one of the most common complaints in my surgery. We may be blessed with washing machines and dishwashers that our grandmothers could only dream of but women today are often juggling home and career and running the risk of spreading themselves too thinly. Of course being tired all the time can be due to medical problems such as anaemia or an underactive thyroid but most of the blood tests I do in this scenario come back normal. It sounds perverse but if you feel constantly exhausted, regular exercise, even a brisk walk for 30 minutes, will boost your energy levels. Ginseng and B vitamins may improve your vitality and valerian will help you sleep well at night, to leave you with a recharged battery in the morning.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

One in 20 children in the UK has ADHD, a condition which was unheard of two generations ago but which is thought to be due to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, causing impulsivity, hyperactivity and poor attention span. It is four times more common in boys than girls and interestingly, the boys tend to be predominantly impulsive and hyperactive whilst girls have more problems with inattention. There is also a strong genetic link ­ if a family has one child with ADHD the chances that a brother or sister will have the disorder are one in three.

If your child or grandchild is the original human hurricane, he may have ADHD. Improving nutrition can often help to ease symptoms and the exclusion of artificial colourings from the diet can help some kids. Omega 3 is a very important nutrient for the healthy development and function of the brain and a number of recent studies have found that omega 3 supplements help to alleviate ADHD-related symptoms and improve a child’s concentration.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Last year over half a million people in the UK were diagnosed with repetitive strain injury. It is certainly a frequent complaint in my consulting room, the most common site being the wrist of the dominant hand which becomes swollen, warm and tender. It is caused by inflammation in the tendon sheath due to repetitive movements. Tapping at a keyboard and using a mouse are the usual culprits and, as with most things, prevention is better than cure. Make sure that your desk and chair are at the correct height ­your seat should allow your knees to bend at right angles with your feet on the floor, your back should be well supported and your elbows should also be at 90 degrees. Using a gel wrist support, alternate the hand you use for your mouse and take regular short breaks. But if you develop RSI, you will have to take some time out to let the inflammation settle. Devil’s Claw, green lipped muscle and bromelain all have natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Alzheimer’s

Although Alzheimers was first defined in the early 1900s, it wasn’t properly recognized until the late 70s, so even if your granny lived long enough to develop the symptoms of dementia, she would be unlikely to have received a diagnosis. We know a lot more about dementia today and there is good evidence that Ginkgo biloba improves the blood flow to the brain and can boost a failing memory. Omega 3 oils are essential for a healthy brain and research suggests that a regular omega 3 fatty acids can help to lower the risks of developing dementia.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

At least one in five UK adults suffers with IBS and if you are one of them you will be all too familiar with the painful spasms and bloating that can interfere with life. We don’t really know why some people develop IBS but we do know that diet and stress play an important role. Keeping a food, stress level and symptom diary for a month can be revealing. Often it is easy to spot what triggers the symptoms when it is written down and a little fine tuning of diet and lifestyle may be all that is needed. I am also a fan of probiotics for IBS sufferers, as they top up the good bacteria in the gut and aid digestion.

There is no cure for IBS. We can’t stop the muscular contractions that propel food through our system, but some supplements such as peppermint to help relax spasm in the gut, artichoke to help to ease digestion and St John’s Wort, if stress and anxiety are an issue for you, are worth a try.

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