We often experience symptoms but don’t even know it. Why? Sometimes we write it off as “growing pains” or “just something that happens as you get older.” Or even still, your momma might tell you to just walk it off. As tough and as strong as we perceive ourselves to be, there are some symptoms that we just can’t afford to ignore. Ever.
Here’s a list of warning symptoms worth remembering. If you suffer from any of these, seeking immediate attention could do more than just make a difference in the quality of your life – it may save your life!
1. Feeling Very Full After Eating Very Little
Feeling full sooner than normal after eating and having persistent nausea and vomiting that last more than a week are warning signs that should be checked by your doctor. There are many possible causes, including pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer.
2. Fever that Keeps Coming Back
If you have a normal immune system and you’re not undergoing treatment, such as chemotherapy for cancer, a persistent low-grade fever — over 100.4 F — should be checked if it lasts for a week or more. If you have a fever with shaking chills, or a high fever — greater than 103 F — or if you’re otherwise severely ill, see your doctor as soon as possible.
If you have an immune system problem or take immune-suppressing drugs, fever may not be a reliable warning sign and your primary doctor or oncologist can tell you what would signal a need for an evaluation.
Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant conditions — such as lymphomas — cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can some medications and conditions, and reactions to certain drugs. Fever is also common with treatable infections, such as urinary tract infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, check with your doctor. Some underlying cancers can cause prolonged, persistent fever, as can tuberculosis and other disorders.
3. Unexplained Weight Loss
You may think losing weight on accident is a blessing, but if you find that you’re losing excessive weight without trying, see your doctor. Unintentional excessive weight loss is considered to be a loss of more than:
• 5 percent of your weight within one month
• 10 percent of your weight within six to 12 months
An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by a number of conditions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), depression, liver disease, cancer or other noncancerous disorders, or disorders that interfere with how well your body absorbs nutrients.
4. Shortness of Breath
You may not just be out of breath because you walked up some stairs–it could be something else. Feeling short of breath — beyond the typical stuffy nose or shortness of breath from exercise — could signal an underlying health problem. If you find that you’re unable to catch your breath or you’re gasping for air/wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless with or without exertion or when reclining is a symptom that needs to be medically evaluated without delay.
Causes for breathlessness may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, anxiety, panic attacks, pneumonia, and a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.
6. Changes in How You Think
Immediate medical evaluation is warranted if any of the following occur:
• Sudden or gradual confused thinking
• Disorientation
• Sudden…