Ticking time bomb? New data reveals most Aussies are burnt out

By Shrishti Kandadai

• 40 per cent feel stressed 2-3 times a week
• 3 in 4 experience joint ache and pain at least once a week
• 25 per cent feel tired in the mornings
• 51 per cent rely on coffee for energy
• A concerning 29 per cent never wear sunscreen

Three-quarters of Aussies experience aches and pains, nearly half are stressed almost every second day, half don’t sleep more when they’re tired, and nearly 1 in 3 never wear sunscreen. Most tired Aussies turn to coffee rather than sleep. Are we burnt out – and is the state of our health a ticking time bomb?

The findings come from a survey of 1002 Australians, commissioned by Entity Health (entity-health.com), an Australian-made nutraceutical brand that treats specific skin and health conditions.

Despite Australia having the world’s highest rate of skin cancer and approximately two in three Aussies being diagnosed with the disease before age 70, the survey reveals that only a fifth (22 per cent) think about protecting their skin from UV damage daily. A further half (47 per cent) will only think about protection when the sun is out, and 26 per cent will only consider it during summer. Older age groups are more mindful – with twice the amount of over-65s (31 per cent) thinking about UV protection than under-34s (15 per cent).

When it comes to proactively protecting their skin from sun damage, 58 per cent of Aussies don’t wear shirts with sleeves, a further half (52 per cent) don’t hydrate while out in the sun, 37 per cent don’t wear a hat, and a concerning 29 per cent don’t wear sunscreen at all.

The survey also asked about stress and found that 40 per cent of respondents feel stressed two-to-three times a week, a further 32 per cent at least once a week, and a worrying 11 per cent feel it daily or several times a day. The leading causes of stress are family issues (for 46 per cent of respondents), personal finances (for 41 per cent), work issues (38 per cent), and health (35 per cent).

Our energy levels are just as sobering. A quarter (25 per cent) of respondents feel most tired in the mornings – when, in fact, we should be most energised – while the biggest energy slump is felt in the late afternoons between 3-6pm, with 31 per cent suffering ‘three-thirty-itis’.

To boost energy, half (51 per cent) of Aussies turn to coffee or tea. Surprisingly, 46 per cent of respondents won’t give themselves more sleep if they feel tired.

Despite joint aches and pains being thought to be conditions linked to ageing, 70 per cent of 18-24-year-olds admit suffering from this at least once a week. Overall three in four Aussies (75 per cent) experience some form of this pain at least once a week, and 54 per cent suffer from it at least two to three times a week.

“Chief Medical Officer at Entity Health, Dr Janakan Krishnarajah, says: “We may think that stress, too much sun, lack of energy, and aches and pains are a natural part of life that will only affect us in the present. However, it’s important that we consider the long-term health consequences if we don’t change our current habits and address these factors early on.

Often the demands of work and family make it challenging to adequately address the health issues caused by modern day lifestyles. In many cases, looking at supplements that are condition specific, such as Entity Health nutraceuticals, are a good solution to addressing these often debilitating health conditions. For instance, RestoriX, one of our supplements which contains a high dose of nicotinamide, was specifically designed to support energy levels. Research indicates that nicotinamide supports cellular repair and energy levels by increasing NAD levels in the body.”