7 Warning Signs From Your Body That You Really Shouldn't Ignore
7 Warning Signs From Your Body That You Really Shouldn't Ignore
Whether it's something with your skin, something with your stomach, or just a general ailment, it's important to know what symptoms are normal and what needs to be checked. To make sure you're not ignoring important body signals, try not to ignore these seven symptoms and make an appointment with your doctor instead. And whatever you do, don't panic! Everything is not always a serious problem, but there is no harm in taking preventive measures.
1. Fatigue
"It's hard to say in today's busy world," says nutritionist Sarah Jacobs. "But if you're consistently tired even after a good night's sleep, or if you notice your brain isn't working as fast as it normally would, it could be a sign of a more serious problem."
Chronic fatigue is often a sign of thyroid problems, nutritional imbalances or food intolerance, among other things. "Instead of relying on coffee to wake you up, it's time to seek help," says Jacobs.
2. Breast rash
A rash on your nipple, also known as Paget's disease, can help diagnose breast cancer or other breast conditions.
"[Paget's disease] is a chronic, red, scaly plaque that forms around a nipple," says dermatologist Jill Weibel. If your nipples are red or scaly, contact your doctor.
3. Purple knot
If your joints are slightly inflamed and purple, it can be a sign of dermatomyositis, an inflammation of the skin's muscle tissue where the amount of collagen decreases, becomes discolored, and begins to swell.
"Dermatomyositis occurs as an autoimmune disease that is often associated with internal malignancies such as ovarian, lung, pancreatic and non-Hodgkin lymphoma," says Weibel.
4. Post-exercise pain
Many of us think of it as “no pain, no gain”, but pain during exercise can often be caused by an injury.
"I was in the best shape of my life," says fitness specialist Debra Atkinson, MSCS, CSCS, which is usually the case before an injury. "Too much fitness and goal-oriented goals sets us up for injury, causing us to lose all advantage and set ourselves back from the ground up."
5. Irregular bowel movements
"Many people have occasional irregularities, but the commonly accepted definition of constipation is having fewer than three bowel movements per week, difficulty passing stool, or both," says Anish Sheth, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist.
It can be a symptom of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Talking to your doctor about your problem can help you make diet and lifestyle changes, or find over-the-counter medications to relieve constipation.
6. Worst headache of your life
Everyone gets a headache here and there, but when the pain becomes unbearable, it could be a sign of something worse.
"Cerebral aneurysms are relatively rare, but 'worst headaches' are a sign that this serious problem should be investigated," said Dr. David Parish. If you experience local pain that causes nausea or blurred vision, you should seek medical attention immediately.
7. Hair loss
"Thinning in women can be a sign of a bad hair day," says Ariel Levitan, MD. "It can indicate underlying health problems like thyroid disease or other autoimmune diseases."
Hair loss can be a sign of a lack of nutrients such as vitamin D or B vitamins, or a hormonal imbalance.
