At 25, while his peers were still searching for their path, Tung, from Phu Tho, already held an international master's degree and a coveted job. Yet, for him, it was not enough. The belief that 'youth is for venturing out,' combined with a fear of poverty, led him to take on additional teaching, research, and project consulting roles.

His packed schedule, rushed meals, and sleepless nights became his normal. Even when his body signaled distress with shortness of breath, a racing heart, or extreme fatigue, Tung dismissed it with his familiar mantra: 'I'm still young, just a little more effort.'

Only when a sharp lower back pain incapacitated him, making sleep a luxury, did Tung finally go to the hospital. Doctors at Hanoi Medical University Hospital diagnosed him with a severe herniated disc, anxiety disorder, gastritis, and a host of musculoskeletal issues.

'At the peak of my life, I'm learning to live with medication, constant pain, and the fear of illness,' Tung said, realizing how poorly he had treated himself for so long.

Linh's X-ray results and a prescription after her examination. *Photo provided by interviewee*

Also dreaming of getting rich before 30, Linh ventured to open a travel company in Hanoi. On average, each day involved devising advertising strategies, running marketing campaigns, planning itineraries and programs, and meeting with clients. 24 hours were not enough. For the first three months, Linh rarely slept at night to meet deadlines. Meals revolved around fast food, instant noodles, and instant pho to save time. 'Work hard while you're young,' she said.

Only when she noticed blood in her stool did she get checked. The results revealed gastric ulcers, H. pylori infection, pelvic arthritis, scoliosis, and vitamin D deficiency. Doctors also discovered she had idiopathic hypertension, requiring regular monitoring. Upon hearing this, Linh sighed. 'It turns out, you can earn back money, but losing health means losing everything.'

Young workers face increasing physical and mental health risks. 'The incidence of 'elderly diseases' and mental health issues among young people is increasing and appearing at younger ages,' stated Master Cao Tran Thanh Trung, Executive Director of Lumos Psychological Counseling and Therapy Center.

According to him, prolonged high-intensity work pressure over many years causes severe and multi-system damage to the body, especially in individuals aged 20-35, when their nervous, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems are still developing and highly sensitive to chronic stress.

A World Health Organization (WHO) study published in 2021 indicated that working over 55 hours per week increases the risk of stroke by 35% and the risk of death from heart disease by 17% compared to standard working hours.

In Vietnam, the situation is no better. In 2023, the Ministry of Health reported that individuals under 45 years old accounted for about 5-7% of all stroke cases, with an average annual increase of 2%. At the National Heart Institute, 15-17% of annual cardiovascular interventions were performed on patients under 40. Even diseases like kidney failure and cancer are aggressively affecting the 18-30 age group, a reality rarely seen before.

According to health experts, the underlying cause of this wave of illness stems from the 'industrialized' lifestyle of young people, including severe sleep deprivation, substance abuse, poor nutrition, and especially the excessive glorification of 'high-performance' culture. Master, Doctor Nguyen Viet Chung, Head of the Mental Health Department at E Hospital, warns that social pressure and a 'deal with illness later' mindset are causing young people to ignore their body's warning signals. This imbalance between work and personal life not only destroys physical health but also erodes mental well-being, leading to a 20% surge in anxiety and depression rates among young patients.

Young people shoulder many responsibilities, often neglecting their health. *Photo: northwell*

To avoid becoming victims of their own ambition for success, doctors advise young people to change extreme mindsets about work. If anxiety or insomnia persists for more than two weeks and affects daily life, seeking medical help is imperative. Early intervention not only helps rule out physical causes but also offers an opportunity to readjust one's pace of life and learn to cope with pressure in a healthier way.

'We earn money to live better, not to live only to earn money at the cost of our lives,' Mr. Trung recommended.

Thuy An