War is taking a growing toll on Ukrainians' health
The number of stress-related physical illnesses is also steadily increasing (photo: Freepik)
Prolonged war affects every aspect of people's lives, including their health. It hurts both physical and mental well-being, which are closely interconnected, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and Head of the World Health Organization Country Office in Ukraine, Dr. Jarno Habicht, said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Prolonged stress caused by the war, sleep disturbances, a constant sense of danger, and living in conditions of uncertainty hurt the body. This can accelerate the aging process and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
"According to our estimates, two out of three people report that their health has worsened compared to the pre-war period," Dr. Habicht said.
World Health Organization survey results indicate that about 70% of adults have experienced a decline in their health compared to the period before the start of the full-scale invasion.
Moreover, by the end of 2025, half of the adult population acknowledged that their health had worsened over the previous year.
The most common problems include:
- Sleep disturbances (72%);
- Headaches and migraines (59%);
- Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (54%).
"The cumulative stress and disruption of the past four years is manifesting in increased chronic diseases and burden of non-communicable diseases," stressed the head of the World Health Organization Country Office in Ukraine.
The consequences of prolonged stress are already visible in medical statistics. In particular, hospitalizations due to stroke have increased by 11%, while hospitalizations due to heart attacks have risen by 7%.
At the same time, health problems are recorded more frequently among internally displaced persons than among residents of local communities. This is because many of them were forced to leave their homes and experienced additional stress due to displacement.
"According to data from the National Health Service of Ukraine, we can see that the number of stress-related somatic diseases has increased significantly. For example, in neurology, the number of diagnoses has risen more than three times compared to 2022," Dr. Habicht concluded.
In May, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to the large-scale Ebola outbreak in Africa.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
