All of us will all age and grow old, there’s no “fountain of youth” that will stop it from happening (at least not yet).
Our bodies will eventually show signs of aging and that’s normal. But our bodies can also communicate with us when things are abnormal.
In fact, minor changes in the body can indicate bigger health issues beneath the surface.
You might think of these signs as common but often it is something else. It could be something more serious than just a minor headache or body pain. To cut it short, you should always pay attention to what your body might be trying to tell you.
Here are 25 health changes you should always take notice of.
1. Extreme Headache
A lot of factors can cause your head to ache, like too much exposure to an electronic gadget, lack of sleep, hot temperature, and much more. But if the ache turns severe and intolerable, it could be something else.
You should start seeing a doctor if the pain is too much or if it doesn’t go away within days.
2. Chest Pain
Pressure or pain in your chest could be caused by heartburn but it can also be a sign of a forthcoming heart attack. This is especially true of women.
If you happen to notice an unusual feeling in your chest, it’s highly recommended that you visit a cardiologist.
3. Body Pain
Body or muscle pain is pretty much normal after doing a strenuous task or after working out. However, if the pain stays longer than usual, it could be a sign of a torn or damaged muscle or bone.
If you do work out regularly and experience usual body pain every after session, it’s best to cut down your workout sets. If the pain continues, go have yourself checked out.
4. Quenchless Thirst
Now that summer is just around the corner, it’s advisable for everyone to be hydrated at all times. But if your thirst is something that’s not being quenched by having just 8 glasses of water a day, then there could be something wrong.
It is the most common sign of type 2 diabetes. If your insatiable thirst also comes along with nausea or fatigue, it’s highly advised that you visit a doctor to see what’s really causing it.
5. Weird-looking Mole or Freckle
Most of us (if not all) are born with marks on our bodies and these are normal. But a new brown spot on the body may indicate melanoma. Other signs of an irregular mole are change in appearance, uneven color, and asymmetry.
6. Questionable Weight Loss
Losing weight is not half bad, especially for overweight people. It’s a sign of getting a fitter and healthier body.
However, if you haven’t done anything to lose weight but lost 5% of your weight within six months to a year, then you might be suffering from depression. This is also a common sign of cancer, Parkinson’s, or diabetes.
7. PMS Symptoms
Do you know that PMS symptoms could also result in undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections? Research from the University of Oxford proves this.
Lead author Dr. Alexandra Alvergne said in a news release:
“Our research shows that by better understanding their period and menstrual cycle, women could potentially improve their health. If you know that severe PMS could be an indicator of an underlying STI, you are more likely to listen to your body.”
8. Clubbed Fingernails
A clubbed fingernail looks like the round part of an upside-down spoon. It happens when there’s a reduction of oxygen in the blood. It could also be a sign of a serious medical condition like lung or heart disease.
9. Sudden Bowel Movements
It’s actually good to flush those toxic wastes inside your body down the drain, it’s a form of detoxification as well. But when you have these irregular and sudden bowel movements, it could be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroidism, or even Parkinson’s disease.
10. Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
According to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, more than 90% of women who experience irregular vaginal bleeding were diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
The cancer center also suggests that menopausal women also need to get checked if they experience bleeding.
11. Continuous Bloating of Belly
During menstrual periods, women are expected to feel bloated, especially if they’ve eaten or drunken too much. However, it isn’t normal to have a bloated belly for more than two weeks after the end of your period.
According to the physicians at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, a persistent bloated belly could be a sign of ovarian cancer.
12. Sweet-smelling Breath
Acetone is a chemical that’s great in removing nail polish, however, it also produces a sweet smell when the body is over-producing it. If you happen to notice your breath having that consistent sweet scent then you better have it checked at the soonest possible time.
13. Seeing Flashes or Bright Spots
It is normal for the eyes to react to bright flashes of light or if it receives a direct hit from something bright. It is also common to see bright lights instantaneously even without a source, it happens as we age.
But according to the American Academy of Opthalmology, when the brightness of these flashes increases, it could be a sign of a retinal detachment. It’s highly recommended that you visit an eye specialist to avoid worsening the situation because it may lead to permanent vision loss in the future.
14. Snoring
Snoring doesn’t just disturb other people who are trying to sleep but it’s also a sign of serious cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.
15. Swollen Legs
Legs are our bread and butter when it comes to mobility and it’s just so hard to move when you have swollen legs. But things could even get worse when the swelling comes with pain, unusual discharge, and pelvic pain.
According to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, all these could possibly lead to cervical cancer.
16. Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath happens if you did something strenuous or if you dashed at least a 100m distance. But when the shortness of breath comes in suddenly and severely, then something could be wrong. When this happens, it’s always best to have yourself checked by a specialist to know what’s causing it.
17. Feeling Full Quickly
For someone who’s on the road to a healthier lifestyle, getting full is something they seldom achieve during meals. However, for an ordinary person who wants to indulge in sumptuous food, getting full so quickly is no fun.
But that’s not all, according to the Medical University of South Carolina, getting full fast often comes with other symptoms like vomiting, weight loss, and nausea. It could also be an indication that you have peptic ulcers, acid reflux, or an even more serious problem such as pancreatic cancer.
18. Confusion
It’s okay to be confused sometimes, however, confusion or difficulty thinking could also mean a serious mental health problem. Confusion could also come with negative behavior as well.
19. Shoulder Blade Pain
Some heart attack symptoms differ between men and women. Aside from the usual chest pain, women also experience pain between the shoulder blades. So for all women out there, never ignore these types of pain, it’s better safe than sorry.
20. Nipple Turning Inward
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women (though it also occurs in men). According to the American Cancer Society:
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. This also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.”
Lumps in the breasts and breast pain are its most common symptoms. Some of its lesser-known signs include the nipples turning inward.
21. Odd Feet Sensations
Sensation in the feet occurs when it gets tired and then “falling asleep” out of exhaustion. But sometimes, it could also be caused by a damaged nerve that’s usually in diabetic people. So if for no reason you happen to feel such, make sure to have your sugar level checked right away.
22. Coughing Up Blood
When someone has a dry throat, the tendency is, they will cough up with blood. But if the bloody cough continues for quite a period of time, it could be a sign that a person has other serious illnesses such as tuberculosis, cancer, or bronchitis.
Now that we live in a pandemic world, coughing could mean a whole lot more. So. get rid of a dry throat and keep yourself hydrated all the time.
23. Fainting or Sudden Dizziness
It goes without saying that fainting and becoming dizzy all of a sudden might be a cause of some serious health problems. If you are experiencing any of these, then you better rush to your doctor for an in-depth diagnosis of your condition.
24. Hair Loss
Some people lose hair as they age, while some lose it because losing hair runs in the blood. Another factor that causes hair loss is hypothyroidism. It’s a condition when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce an ample amount of thyroid hormone.
Hair loss can also be caused by stress and certain medications like chemotherapy.
25. High/Persistent Fever
When you have a high fever, it simply means that you caught a viral infection and your body is fighting it. Especially now that we are living in a pandemic, fever is one of the main symptoms.
However, if your fever is high or consistent, it could also mean something more as well. You can easily avoid viruses, just stay indoors, eat healthily, have enough to plenty of sleep hours, take in vitamins, and keep yourself busy at home by being productive.
If your body shows any of these signs, don’t ignore them, and make sure to have yourself checked. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
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