Health Conditions Older Entrepreneurs Are at Risk Of Developing

​10-15 hour work days, piles of work with little support, few resources and lots of competition. This about sums up the life of an entrepreneur - especially in the beginning stages of business. They have the passion and dedication to work really hard to bring their dream to fruition, but with limited finances and support, most small business owners are under a lot of stress. In an effort to make it to the top, these strong-willed professionals work themselves into a hole. If they’re not careful, it could lead to a host of health problems. Including those listed below

​Mental Health Problems

At the top of the list of health problems that entrepreneurs are at risk of getting its mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, or chronic stress. Trying to run a business takes an emotional toll on you. The frustration of a heavy workload, the pressures to succeed, and the pure embarrassment of failure can cause individuals to feel extremely anxious or overly saddened by it all.
 
Being an entrepreneur is for the strong-minded. You must learn how to balance your emotions so that they don’t take control of your life and the success of your business. Find time in the day to do something that has nothing to do with business as a means of unwinding. When you have an especially stressful day, make a mistake, or feel undue pressures to succeed, try to recenter yourself with meditation, journaling, or therapy.

Addiction

​Often going hand in hand with mental illness, entrepreneurs are at an increased risk to suffer from addiction. This addiction can be to a substance like drugs or alcohol, or it could be to a behavior like working or gambling. In an effort to numb the pain, overlook the problem, or push through the madness, entrepreneurs may turn to negative substances and behaviors.
 
If you are showing signs of substance dependency, addiction, or engaging in reckless behaviors, you should seek help right away. Most addictions are complex in that they are a direct result of mental and physical aspects. Treatment options like rehab, group therapy, or addiction counseling treat the addiction and underlying cause to help you learn how to cope with the many pressures and emotions of running a business.

​Sleep Disorders

​It’s not uncommon for a novice entrepreneur to find themselves struggling with a sleep disorder. Suffering from pain or dealing with the anxieties and stress of running a business can keep you awake at night.
 
If you’re having a hard time getting to sleep, this isn’t good for you or business. Lack of sleep eventually leads to a decline in concentration, focus, and productivity. Not to mention it weakens your immune system, decreases your energy levels, and puts you at risk for a number of health problems. Contact your doctor for remedies to help you get to sleep. If they prescribe medication like Ativan, however, be sure to use only as prescribed as they are easy to become addicted to and will require you to enroll in an Ativan detox program to get clean.

​Body Aches

​From migraines due to stress and backaches due to sitting at a computer desk all day, an entrepreneur’s body is put through the ringer.
 
Body aches can often be avoided or at least completely reduced with a few simple tips. For starters, get up from the computer screen every few hours and stretch. This gives your limbs and eyes a break from sitting in the same position. Posture is also important when your desk involves sitting for hours at a time. Make sure that your feet are planted on the ground, your shoulders are back and you’re not slouched over. Lastly, working out and getting massages can help to get rid of that tension from stress.
 
This is only a few of the health issues that can come up for entrepreneurs. From high blood pressure and executive burnout to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, their health is put to the test on a regular basis. To ensure that you remain healthy it is important to take care of yourself. Eat clean foods, get plenty of rest, find ways to reduce stress, and when necessary, get help when you need it. It may not seem important now, but taking care of yourself as an entrepreneur truly is the key to success. Essentially, if you’re not your best self, your business can’t reach its fullest potential.