Research from Bupa finds that more than one in five required urgent medical attention after ignoring symptoms, as cost-of-living and life pressures cause many to put their health last. 

More than one in five (22%) UK adults have needed urgent medical attention after ignoring early symptoms, as the continued cost-of-living crisis forces many to put their health on hold.

Against a backdrop of sustained pressure on household finances and stretched public services, according to this year’s Bupa Wellbeing Index, an annual barometer of the nation’s physical and mental health, more than half (51%) of people say they find it harder to prioritise their health and wellbeing in the current economic climate.

Many are making short-term trade-offs that can carry longer-term health consequences, adding to their mental load and placing strain on personal wellbeing – with two in five people (41%1) admitting they are unable to put their wellbeing first because of the cost of living and almost a quarter (24%) saying delaying treatment due to the cost of living made their condition worse.

“This year’s Bupa Wellbeing Index highlights a growing national challenge: financial pressures and competing demands are causing many people to put their health on hold, delaying diagnosis and treatment,” said Bupa Global, India & UK chief executive Chris Carroll, of the research, which polled 8,002 UK adults.

“The consequences are felt not only by individuals, but also across workplaces and the wider economy, as health issues become more complex to treat, recovery takes longer, and people struggle to stay well and in work,” he added. 

Cost-of-living crisis forces many to put their health on hold.

Cost of coping

What Bupa has dubbed “the cost of coping” is causing many people to put off getting the care they need. 

Work, financial pressures and everyday responsibilities are making it harder for people to access healthcare when they need it. More than half (56%) of employed respondents have delayed seeking attention for a physical or mental health concern because they did not want to take time off work.

Many are pushing through health concerns rather than addressing them: 57% of employed respondents continue working when exhausted, 41% have worked through illness rather than take sick leave, 71% of those who are employed have gone to work while struggling with their mental health, and 33% worry that taking time off for health reasons could affect their career.

This delay in seeking attention for health concerns is reshaping people’s working lives, with the findings pointing to a growing link between poor health, financial pressure and people’s ability to stay in work – impacting mental health. One in five (20%) feel anxious or stressed every day as a result. And of those who have been employed in the past 12 months, nearly a quarter (24%) say their mental health was a key factor in leaving a job, and one in five (18%) say the same about their physical health

“The pressures people face in their daily lives can make it harder to prioritise their health, seek support early and stay well,” said Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, commenting on the results.

“Prevention and early intervention, alongside healthier working lives, must be part of the response, including better support from public services and employers,” she added.