What Your Body Might Be Trying to Tell You
Oftentimes, a headache is just a headache—bothersome, but not serious. Other times, though, your body could be telling you something, and it's important you recognize the warning signs and what to do. From chest pain, yellow eyes, and night sweats, here are 20 health symptoms you should never ignore.
1. Blood in the Urine
Unless you're currently menstruating, blood in the urine (or hematuria) should immediately raise alarm. While there could be many different causes, some of which may be benign, hematuria could also indicate something serious, like bladder cancer.
2. Radiating Chest Pain
Chest pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck, and jaw should never be ignored, especially if it's accompanied by tachycardia and shortness of breath. While other conditions, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or anxiety, may mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, it's important to see a doctor right away.
3. Unexplained Weight Loss
We're not talking about water weight or small fluctuations on the scale—unexplained weight loss is when you drop a significant amount of weight without trying. You may notice that your clothes don't fit the same as they used to, or experience other symptoms, both of which should raise concern.
4. Changes in Bowel Movements & Habits
Have your bowel movements been more frequent? Less frequent? Are your stools solid or watery? What size, shape, and color are they? It's important to keep note of any changes in your bowel habits—and your poop—whenever you go number two, and to chat with your doctor if you start noticing any deviations.
5. Chronic Fatigue
Everyone gets tired after a long day, but if you're struggling to climb stairs without feeling winded or finding it nearly impossible to accomplish daily tasks, it's worth scheduling an appointment with your doctor. Chronic fatigue could signal anything from a poor night's sleep to heart disease.
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6. Severe Abdominal Pain
We've all gotten a stomachache before from eating something that didn't sit well with our gut, but severe abdominal pain is different from that. These sharp, stabbing cramps may even wake you from sleep, and could indicate an infection, like appendicitis, or something more serious.
7. Yellow Eyes
If the whites of your eyes are starting to tint yellow, that's a telltale sign that you have too much bilirubin in your system. While this symptom typically points to jaundice, it could be caused by other factors as well. Make sure to get it checked out with a doctor as soon as you see any yellowing.
8. New Lumps & Bumps
While some lumps can be the result of a swollen lymph node or cyst, you should see a doctor to rule out anything serious right away. New lumps felt in the neck, breast, and testicles should immediately be examined to ensure they're not cancerous.
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9. Intense Headaches
You might get a headache every now and then that's bothersome, but isn't painful enough to worry about. A sudden, severe headache, however, should raise immediate concern, especially if it's accompanied by other symptoms, such as weakness on one side, seizures, or confusion. It could be a sign of something serious, such as a stroke or aneurysm.
10. Frequent Urination
Frequent urination could be caused by something simple, such as drinking too many fluids. But sometimes, it might indicate an infection, pregnancy, or diabetes. To narrow down the cause, it's important to bring up any changes to your usual habits to your doctor.
11. Rectal Bleeding
While rectal bleeding could be caused by something benign, such as the presence of hemorrhoids (swollen veins that form inside and outside the anal canal), this symptom should never be ignored, especially if you also find blood in your stool. Any time you see red in the toilet bowl or on the tissue, you should be booking an appointment with your doctor right away.
12. Night Sweats
Unless it's the peak of summer and you have no fans or air conditioning in your room to cool you off, sweating excessively at night should spark concern. And we don't mean just a little bit of sweat—we mean your bedsheets are soaked through. While this symptom may sometimes have a benign cause, such as those in menopause, it could also signal something serious, like an infection, diabetes, or cancer.
13. Pain When Urinating
Painful urination can have other causes, but the most common reason is a urinary tract infection (UTI). Mild infections may be able to resolve on their own, but it's important to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that they can properly diagnose and treat the problem.
14. Loss of Appetite
Sure—some days you're just too tired or stressed to feel hungry. But even though loss of appetite doesn't always strike us as an alarming symptom, it still might indicate something else, especially if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It's better to be safe than sorry, so get it checked out as soon as possible.
15. Constant Bloating
Bloating can have benign reasons, such as excess gas, food intolerances, or even being in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. But if you're constantly bloated even after only eating a small portion of food, it's worth seeing a doctor to rule out anything serious.
16. Feel Full Quickly
If you're constantly bloated and experience early satiety, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. These symptoms, especially when appearing together, may indicate an underlying health problem, such as GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, cancer, or an obstruction.
17. Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing could have many causes, from anxiety to GERD. However, it could also indicate something serious, such as a muscle disorder or even cancer. If you find any changes from your usual, always remember to chat with your doctor about new symptoms right away.
18. Swelling in the Legs & Feet
You might notice that your legs and feet swell when you've been sitting for a while, such as on a long-haul flight. While there could be numerous reasons for this, some of which may not be serious, it might indicate vein issues, kidney problems, or even heart disease. In some cases, it could be a sign of deep-vein thrombosis—a blood clot that forms in the legs.
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19. Wounds That Won't Heal
Some wounds may take longer to heal, but they shouldn't take forever. If you're experiencing abnormal healing times, it may indicate an underlying problem, such as an infection, circulation issues, nutrient deficiency, or diabetes. Make sure to talk to your doctor if your wounds aren't closing within the expected timeframe.
20. Sudden Vision Problems or Numbness
Sudden vision issues or numbness, such as blurriness or loss of sensation on one side of your body, are major red flags and may indicate a stroke. This weakness on one half of your body is due to each of the brain's hemispheres controlling the opposite side; if the numbness manifests on the left side, it could mean there's bleeding in the right part of your brain. You should seek immediate medical assistance if you experience these symptoms.
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