Guide to Co-occurring Health Conditions in People with Physical and Hidden Disabilities

 

 Guide to Co-occurring Health Conditions in People with Physical and Hidden Disabilities

This guide helps students and parents understand how conditions like Spina bifida, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Dyspraxia can lead to or be accompanied by other health challenges. These issues are also common in the general population and should not be seen as exclusive to any one condition.

---

🏥 Common Co-occurring Conditions

1. Bladder and Bowel Issues

What Happens: Difficulty controlling urination or bowel movements (incontinence).

Why It Happens: Often due to nerve damage, mobility limitations, or the effects of certain medications.

Support: Continence services, pelvic floor therapy, specialized equipment, and medication.

2. Fatigue

What Happens: Persistent tiredness doesn’t go away with rest.

Why It Happens: Caused by neurological dysfunction, muscle overuse, disrupted sleep, or side effects of medication.

Support: Energy conservation strategies, pacing, rest breaks, and medical reviews.

3. Injury, Seizures, and Epilepsy

What Happens: Increased risk of falls, bumps, and seizures.

Why It Happens: Reduced coordination (e.g., Dyspraxia), balance issues, or neurological activity (as seen in epilepsy).

Guide to Co-occurring Health Conditions in People with Physical and Hidden Disabilities

Co-occurring Health Conditions in People with Physical and Hidden Disabilities: A Guide

People with both physical and hidden (or invisible) disabilities often face additional health challenges. These co-occurring conditions can affect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being and make daily life more difficult.

---

1. Increased Risk of Long-Term Health Problems

Research shows that people with disabilities are more likely to experience chronic health conditions than those without disabilities. This includes both physical and mental health concerns.

Key Statistics:

·                     Obesity: 40.5% of adults with disabilities are obese, compared to 30.3% without.

·                     Heart Disease: 10.4% of adults with disabilities have heart disease, compared to 3.7% without.

·                     People with disabilities also have higher rates of smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

---

2. Common Co-occurring Conditions

Co-occurring conditions are health issues that occur alongside a disability. These can be caused directly or indirectly by the disability itself, or they may be unrelated but made worse by limited access to care or support.

a. Secondary Conditions

These are conditions that result from the primary disability. They can affect daily living and quality of life.

·                     Chronic pain

·                     Depression or anxiety

·                     Obesity

·                     Bowel and bladder issues

·                     Fatigue and sleep problems

·                     Pressure sores or ulcers (especially for people with limited mobility)

b. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

People with disabilities have a higher risk of developing:

·                     Serious mental illnesses (such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, or schizophrenia)

·                     Substance use disorders

·                     Undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues

Access to treatment for these conditions is often lower for people with physical or cognitive disabilities.

c. Other Common Health Conditions

Some additional physical health conditions that often occur with disabilities include:

·                     Arthritis

·                     Asthma

·                     Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

·                     Diabetes

·                     Heart Disease

·                     Learning Disabilities

·                     Musculoskeletal conditions

·                     MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

·                     Respiratory viruses or infections

---

3. Barriers to Effective Care and Management

People with disabilities often face extra barriers in accessing the healthcare they need for these co-occurring conditions.

a. Misunderstandings by Healthcare Providers

·                     Providers may wrongly assume that poor health is a natural part of having a disability.

·                     This can lead to a focus only on the disability itself, rather than treating additional health concerns.

b. Physical and Communication Barriers

·                     Inaccessible clinics, equipment, or transport.

·                     Lack of clear, Easy Read or alternative formats for health information.

·                     Communication difficulties—especially for people with speech, hearing, or cognitive impairments.

c. Discrimination and Stigma

·                     People with disabilities may not be taken seriously.

·                     Mental health and substance use disorders are often not treated together, making care less effective.

d. Lack of Joined-Up Care

·                     Many healthcare systems treat physical, mental, and substance use issues separately.

·                     This makes it harder for people to get holistic, person-centred support.

---

Conclusion

Managing co-occurring health conditions in people with disabilities requires greater awareness, better communication, and more inclusive healthcare systems. By recognising the full range of challenges people face—not just the primary disability—professionals, families, and services can help improve outcomes and support independence and well-being.