15 Signs That Something Is Seriously Wrong With Your Health

Date March 14, 2018 18:07

Sometimes, your body gives you clues that it's in trouble. But these clues aren't always as obvious as, say, severe chest pain, splitting headaches, or coughing up blood. The signs your body sends you may be more subtle and not even cause too much discomfort.

Below are 15 signs your body is trying to let you know you may have a health issue that you shouldn't ignore.

1. Always feeling tired.

Most often, feeling tired is a result of cutting back on sleep. But if you get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night and feel tired anyway, it could be a sign of a health issue. Common possible causes of this symptom include hypothyroidism and diabetes.


2. Not sleeping well.

Inability to fall asleep fast or waking up often during the night could result from not having a fixed sleep schedule. But there are other possible causes, which include elevated levels of stress hormone cortisol and mental issues, such as anxiety disorders.

3. Mood swings.

Some people always have mood swings - they are just part of their character. Many women have mood swings around the time of starting periods. But constant mood swings may indicate that you have a hormone imbalance. Extreme mood swings can be a sign of bipolar disorder if other symptoms of the condition are present.

4. Urine turning darker.

Normal urine has pale yellow color or may look almost clear. If your urine is dark yellow, it could be a sign of dehydration. Red, brown, pink, or green urine colors are also abnormal and should be reported to a doctor. Green color could be a sign of an infection, and red, pink, and brown colors indicate the presence of blood.

Other urinary symptoms to watch out for include urinating more often, painful urination, difficulty controlling the urge to urinate, and feeling that your bladder can't empty completely.

5. Unexplained weight changes.

Gaining or losing weight without changes in your diet is a common sign of thyroid issues. Thyroid hormone levels that are too high or too low may be behind your unexplained weight changes, but an imbalance of other hormones could be to blame.

Unexplained weight loss is also a common symptom present in later stages of different types of cancer.

6. Feeling like something is stuck in your throat.

If you feel like something is in your throat, and it also makes it difficult to swallow, it could indicate an enlarged thyroid. The thyroid gland enlarges either when it's underactive or overactive.

7. Weak and brittle nails

If your nails have become weak and brittle, it could be due to a lack of certain vitamins and other nutrients in your diet. Weak nails may also be a symptom of underactive thyroid.

8. Discolored whites of the eyes

Red eyes are a common sign of conjunctivitis. The condition may also be accompanied by eye discharge. Whites of the eyes turning yellow is usually a sign of liver issues.

READ ALSO: 11 Signs Of High Stress That Are Often Overlooked

9. Cold feet

If your feet feel colder than the rest of your body, it generally indicates a problem with blood circulation. One of the common causes of cold feet is peripheral artery disease.

10. Itchy skin

In many cases, itchy skin is a sign of an allergy. If the skin is also red and irritated, these symptoms may indicate dermatitis. Some people with diabetes report itchy skin as one of their symptoms.

11. Persistent acne

If you have constant breakouts, but you're well past your teenage years, it could be a sign that your hormones are out of balance.

12. Frequent colds

It's normal to have colds and flu a couple of times a year. But if you get them more often, it means that your immune system isn't working as well as it should.

13. Bad breath

If you brush your teeth twice daily, floss diligently, and follow other recommendations of your dentist, but seem to be unable to get rid of bad breath, the problem may not be related to your oral hygiene. Bad breath may be a symptom of gastrointestinal issues, such as acid reflux.

14. Becoming forgetful.

Have you noticed that your memory is not as good as it used to be? Memory issues are often caused by a lack of sleep. Decreased ability to memorize things may be present in people with certain mental health issues, such as depression. Becoming increasingly forgetful may be one of the first symptoms of dementia.

15. Shortness of breath after a mild exertion.

Are you short of breath after climbing a few flights of stairs? If even a mild exertion, such as climbing the stairs or carrying groceries, leaves you short of breath and makes your heart pound, it may mean something is wrong with your heart.

If you have any signs and symptoms that worry you, don't hesitate to discuss it with your doctor. He or she will find out what is causing them.

Source: MSN, Reader's Digest, MindBodyGreen, Step to Health

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