When it comes to your health, certain symptoms are universal red flags and cause you to seek medical attention immediately. These include: wheezing, chest pain, and bloody diarrhea. No one is likely to overlook these. However, there are more subtle signs of poor health that may be easier to ignore or disregard. While these symptoms may not be as attention-grabbing as others, they still give you a hint that it is time to check in with your doctor.
Increased Thirst
In general, it is always a good idea to drink water when you are thirsty and stop when you feel satisfied. Polydipsia is a condition in which you find you are excessively thirsty and normal quantities of water do not quench your thirst. This condition may be a symptom of diabetes mellitus, diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetes insipidus. This increased thirst occurs as a result of the high levels of sugar in the blood sucking up all the water in the body and causing dehydration.
Temperature Sensitivity
This refers to being extra sensitive to cold or hot temperatures. If you suddenly find you are abnormally uncomfortable in hot weather or overwhelmingly chilled in cold temperatures, you may be suffering heat or cold intolerance. This condition may be an indication of an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces hormones that control our metabolism. When the thyroid is underactive and producing smaller amounts of thyroid hormones you’re prone to cold intolerance. And when it is over producing you may have heat intolerance.
Dry Hair or Skin
Dry hair or skin may be signs of a nutritional deficiency. To keep your hair strong and your skin supple, be sure to include healthy fats in your diet. Sources of healthy fats include nuts, seeds, avocadoes, and salmon. Spinach, broccoli, and sweet red peppers contain vitamins A and C, which promote good skin health by reducing inflammation and boosting collagen. Medical conditions such as hypoparathyroidism or hypothyroidism may also cause your hair to become brittle and your skin to become dry.
Peeing Frequently in the Night
Frequent urination, including during the nighttime hours, may be a symptom of diabetes or other medical conditions. Nocturia is the medical term for frequently waking up in the night to urinate. Several medical issues may cause nocturia. They include congestive heart failure, sleeping disorders such as OSA, and untreated diabetes. Certain medications may also cause nocturia. Diuretics, lithium, and phenytoin are examples of drugs that may increase your need to urinate. Having to wake up at night to pee can interrupt your sleep and since a good night’s sleep is crucial to good health, you should speak with your doctor if you are suffering from this problem.
Swollen Ankles
Swollen ankles may be an indication of heart disease or circulatory problems. A blood clot in the leg, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), may cause swelling. A DVT is particularly dangerous if the clot breaks free and travels through the bloodstream to block a blood vessel in the. A pulmonary embolism refers to a blood clot that becomes lodged in the lungs, blocking airflow. Meanwhile, a clot that travels to the brain can cause a stroke.
Weight Loss
While many of us are constantly on a weight loss journey, spending many hours at the gym, wearing uncomfortable garments, counting calories and partaking in every fad diet, others may find themselves losing weight unexpectedly. Unfortunately, unexplained weight loss may be an indicator of underlying health problems. Some health disorders that may result in unexplained weight loss include Addison’s disease, diabetes, depression, heart failure, thyroid disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. Make an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause if you find you are unintentionally losing weight.
Bad Breath
Dentists recommend brushing twice a day to maintain good dental hygiene. If you have bad breath despite faithful tooth brushing, flossing, and brushing the surface of your tongue, gum disease may be the culprit. The American Academy of Periodontology asserts that gum disease may increase your risk of heart disease. Therefore, it is important to prevent gum disease before it gets out of hand. Irritated and inflamed gums can progress to tooth sensitivity, receding gums, and bone loss, which are a result of periodontal disease. Other warning signs of gum disease include swollen gums, gums that bleed easily, and teeth that shift or become loose. Also seeing your dentist at least twice a year can help you stay on top of your oral hygiene.
Changes in Your Fingernails
Your fingernails are more than just a canvas to paint and look pretty. Certain medical conditions may show up in nail discoloration, deformity, or weakness. Horizontal ridges across your nails may be an indication of thyroid disease. Yellowing nails may indicate lymphatic disease, autoimmune disorders, or certain types of cancer. Meanwhile, spoon nails, in which the nails lift up from the nail bed to form little cups, may be a sign of iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, or heart disease.
Remember that you are the one who lives in your body so you should always pay attention and watch out for anything abnormal and discuss it with your doctor to make sure it is not something to worry about.
