According to the most recent reports from the CDC, approximately 129 million Americans are living with at least one major chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The majority of those affected are women, many of whom have multiple diagnoses. Women also make up over 80% of patients with autoimmune diseases, experiencing severe symptoms with significant impacts on their health.
In today’s world, chronic illness no longer solely affects overweight, middle-aged men who refuse to change their diets. In 2025, young women who are otherwise healthy are increasingly becoming the face of chronic illness. Many of these young women are sharing their journeys with debilitating illnesses online, leading them to be dubbed “sickfluencers” by news outlets.
I am among the millions of young women under 30 who are dealing with multiple health conditions. Along with two of my first cousins, both also under 30, I have been diagnosed with a puzzling condition known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardic Syndrome (POTS), which impacts one to three million people in the U.S., with up to 85% of cases occurring in women.
Medical professionals often struggle to understand and properly diagnose conditions like POTS, attributing symptoms to anxiety or simply being unable to provide a definitive answer. While some geneticists have theorized that these symptoms could be linked to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or even the HPV vaccine, a cure remains elusive.
Many of these young women, who are high achievers in school and otherwise healthy, suddenly find themselves grappling with distressing symptoms like blurred vision, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, vomiting, and fainting. These conditions are just a few examples of the challenges young women are facing, with experiences of dismissal and misdiagnosis being all too common.
The majority of medical professionals are unfamiliar with these conditions, leaving patients like me without proper guidance or effective treatment options. This lack of awareness and research into chronic illnesses has left many young women feeling hopeless and struggling to cope with conditions that disrupt their lives before they even reach 30.
If we are truly committed to addressing the root causes of chronic illnesses and combating the health crisis affecting women, it is crucial for the government to prioritize solutions that offer real improvements rather than leaving us to suffer in silence. We deserve answers and effective treatments to help us regain control of our health and well-being.
And, at the very least, hope for better lives. Original article source: I am chronically ill. RFK Jr. could find solutions to actually make us better.
