Health conditions that would stop you from conscription into the British Army
Brits who suffer from bad teeth and heart disease are included in a list of the health conditions that would make exempt from conscription into the Army.
The head of the British Army warned that ordinary Brits would have to fight if the UK went to war because the armed forces aren't big enough. General Sir Patrick Sanders sounded the alarm in a bombshell speech, telling ministers they need to "mobilise the nation" if war breaks out with Russia. The chilling alert comes amid growing concerns that the UK doesn't have enough troops.
The UK has used conscription twice in the past during WW1 and WW2 while it continued national service up until the 1960s. Previously people have been chosen for conscription based on age, sex, job and have been excluded if they suffer from certain medical conditions.
The British Army has a list of 60 illnesses and complaints that would rule people out of fighting for the country which is not limited, and some of the conditions might appear surprising. “Being in the Army can be challenging both physically and mentally. Therefore, a history of health problems or the presence of health conditions that usually don't affect your everyday life, can mean that you're not able to join, or you might have to wait to join,” states the Army.
Conditions that may exclude you from conscription
Heart disease
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There are around 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK - an ageing and growing population and improved survival rates from heart and circulatory events could see these numbers rise still further, states the British Heart Foundation.
Heart disease is the term for what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. Along with heart disease, hypertension or an abnormal heart rhythm are other cardiovascular problems that could lead you to be excluded from conscription.
Food allergies
A food allergy is when the body’s immune system reacts unusually to specific foods. Although allergic reactions are often mild, they can be very serious and the Army could stop you from joining if you are unable to eat certain foods.
But the Army does state: "You can still apply to join the army even if your medical history includes one or more of these conditions. The medical team assess everyone individually, and make their decisions based on their professional opinion in keeping with prescribed army standards." Almost any food can cause an allergic reaction, but there are certain foods that are responsible for most food allergies. While people may be perfectly fit aside from their allergy, the Army would not be in a position all the time to guarantee it could offer specific types of food.
Piles
Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels that are found inside or around the bottom (the rectum and anus). Many cases of piles are thought to be caused by too much straining on the toilet, due to prolonged constipation – this is often due to a lack of fibre in a person’s diet. Chronic (long-term) diarrhoea can also make you more vulnerable to getting haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoid symptoms often settle down after a few days, without needing treatment. Haemorrhoids that occur during pregnancy often get better after giving birth. But making lifestyle changes to reduce the strain on the blood vessels in and around your anus is often recommended. This can include gradually increasing the amount of fibre in your diet.
Back problems
Back pain, particularly in the lower back, is very common. It usually improves within a few weeks but can sometimes last longer or keep coming back. The Army would exclude people from joining if you have specific problems which for example have required surgery or if you have a chronic condition.
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Back pain can have many causes - but it's not always obvious what causes it, and it often gets better on its own. A common cause of back pain is an injury such as a pulled muscle. Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. More than five million people in the UK are thought to have diabetes of some form.
There are two main types of diabetes: type one diabetes – a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, and type two diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin properly. Type two diabetes is far more common than type one. In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type two. High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. It usually goes away after giving birth.
The British Army has a list of 60 illnesses and complaints that would rule people out of fighting for the country (Geoff Pugh/REX/Shutterstock)Full list of conditions exempting you from Army
Back problems
History of spinal surgery.
Structural abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord.
History of chronic or recurrent back pain.
Blood diseases
Sickle Cell disease.
Congenital spherocytosis.
Thalassaemia.
Hepatitis B or C.
Leukaemia or malignant lymphoma.
Disorders resulting in abnormal coagulation.
Bone or joint problems
Knee injuries and chronic knee pain.
History of bone fractures.
Shoulder problems resulting in functional limitations or restrictions of movement.
Loss of a limb.
Clubfoot (including past surgery).
Chronic joint diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Hypermobility syndrome.
Cardiovascular problems
Diagnosis of heart disease.
Bicuspid aortic valve.
Symptomatic or medication-suppressed abnormal heart rhythms.
Cardiomyopathy.
Hypertension.
Dental health (mouth, teeth and gums )
Poor dental hygiene, including needing the removal of teeth or ongoing treatment.
Ear problems
Current perforation of ear drum.
Chronic ear diseases like cholesteatoma.
Presence of eardrum 'grommets'.
Deafness or hearing problems.
Eye problems
Chronic eye conditions such as glaucoma, keratoconus and retinitis pigmentosa.
Damage to the eyelids affecting vision.
Chronic conjunctivitis.
Reduction of corrected vision in one eye below army entry standards.
Diplopia.
Gastrointestinal problems
Chronic abdominal diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Significant history of dyspepsia.
Loss of spleen (splenectomy).
Active Haemorrhoids.
Kidney and Urologic problems
Congenital kidney diseases/anomalies.
History of kidney problems such as malfunction of a kidney or kidney stones.
Recurrent renal colic.
History of urinary incontinence.
History of genital infections.
Neurological disorders
Epilepsy.
History of head injury with neurological sequalae.
Migraines.
Multiple sclerosis.
Psychiatric problems
Schizophrenia.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Alcohol or drug dependence.
Personality Disorders.
Eating Disorders.
Anxiety and Depression.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
History of deliberate self-harm or suicide attempts.
Respiratory problems
Asthma (depending on severity and need for treatment).
Chronic lung disease such as emphysema, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis.
Tuberculosis.
Skin problems
If you suffer from skin conditions such as severe widespread psoriasis or dermatitis. However, if it's mild or moderate dermatitis it may be considered.
Other conditions
Being an organ transplant recipient.
Food allergy requiring you to avoid some foods in your diet due to allergy or intolerance (not because you don't like it!).
Raynaud's phenomenon.
Diabetes.
Some medical conditions requiring long-term medication or replacement therapy.
Moderate or severe COVID 19 infection.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is currently ruling out the possibility of conscription. Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said: "There is no suggestion of that. The Government has no intention to follow through with that. The British military has a proud tradition of being a voluntary force. There are no plans to change that." The No 10 official said "hypothetical scenarios" about potential future conflicts were "not helpful".
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