Common Health Conditions | Easy Health

Skip to title Skip to main content

Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death among people with learning disabilities.

Diabetes People with a learning disability are more likely to have diabetes than the general population.

Dementia People with a learning disability are more at risk of developing dementia – particularly people with Down’s syndrome.

Dental Problems People with learning disabilities have poorer oral health and more problems accessing dental services than other people.

Epilepsy About 1 in 3 people who have a mild to moderate learning disability also have epilepsy. This is more than in the general population.

Gastrointestinal Cancers Research shows people with learning disabilities have a higher risk of gastrointestinal cancer. This means cancer in your stomach or food pipe.

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disorder (GORD) 50% of people with severe and 70% with profound learning disabilities or cerebral palsy have GORD.

Mental Health Problems People with a learning disability can be more likely to experience poor mental health, and mental health conditions are not always recognised.

Obesity People with learning disabilities are more likely to be overweight or obese, which increases the risk of health problems.

Sight and Hearing Loss (Sensory Impairments) People with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have sight problems, and between 4 and 8 times more likely to have hearing loss.

Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia) Dysphagia is when you have problems swallowing, or can’t swallow at all.

Lung and Breathing Problems (COPD) People with learning disabilities are more likely to have COPD than the general population.

DISCLAIMER

Patient talking to the GP

Easy Health is an online library. We share the work of different organisations, but are not responsible for the content.

Always ask for medical advice from your doctor if you are unsure.

Make sure you talk to your GP if you feel unwell.

Laptop screen showing a library of information online

We try to keep our resources up-to-date.

If you spot a document that is out-of-date/ inaccurate, please contact us to let us know, so we can update it.

Subscribe to our newsletter Every 3 months, we share good news and tips on accessibility, and new resources.

Easy Read Resources Browse our collection of health leaflets and films

Log in | Powered by White Fuse