Latest news with #healthsymptoms
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Reveal 22 Weird Symptoms Women Over 40 Experience—and What They Mean
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." As you get older, your body changes. And you might start to experience unexpected symptoms. Sure, thinning hair and hot flashes are par for the course during your menopause years. But what if you suddenly have trouble sleeping or start feeling cold all the time? How do you know if what you're experiencing is no big deal—or worth mentioning to your doctor, stat? Sometimes, these symptoms are just signs of getting older. Aging offers all kinds of upsides, but it sneaks in some pesky surprises as well. Other times, they may signal a more serious health condition and warrant additional testing to understand what's going on. Here, experts share 22 weird health symptoms women over 40 often experience. They also decode exactly what those symptoms mean, so you know what next steps to take if you relate to anything on the 40, your metabolism tends to slow down about 5% every decade. This makes it harder to lose weight and easier to gain weight—meaning you have to be more intentional about diet and exercise. 'As your metabolism changes, your portion size and activity level play a much more significant factor in weight maintenance and weight loss,' explains Jessica Shepherd, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN. 'The decrease in estrogen during menopause causes changes in metabolism, hormone maintenance, and heart health.'Feeling tired is nothing new. But as you age, you may get worn out faster. This is often due to hormonal changes from menopause, but since it's associated with a range of other health conditions, it's worth mentioning to your doctor. In the meantime, do what you can to get enough sleep. Taz Bhatia, M.D., a board-certified integrative medicine physician and women's health expert, recommends 7 hours a night at least 5 nights a week. 'Consistent sleep is a key factor in rejuvenating and replenishing the body,' she and pains happen, especially as you age. But if you experience pain in your chest, neck, jaw, upper stomach, or back—especially with fatigue, nausea, or shortness of breath—talk to your doctor. These could be signs of cardiovascular disease. 'This is the most common cause of death in American women,' says Kecia Gaither, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and women's health expert. She recommends getting routine cardiovascular exams to catch the condition women in their 40s experience a low sex drive. And everything from hormonal changes to vaginal dryness could be the cause. Often, the solution is as simple as using an estrogen cream. But be sure to mention the symptom to your doctor, especially if it's impacting your quality of you turn 40, it's time to start getting routine mammograms. But be on the lookout for common breast cancer symptoms between annual exams. 'Breast and cervical cancer are the two most common cancers affecting women,' Dr. Gaither says. While it's often normal to have swollen breasts before your period, breast swelling, pain, dimpling, or discharge can also be signs of breast older you get, the more likely you are to develop high blood pressure, or hypertension. The condition often presents without any symptoms. But in some cases, you may experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath. Be sure to flag any of these symptoms to your doctor, in addition to getting your blood pressure checked at your annual with insomnia? You're not alone. One study found that 20% of women aged 40-59 had trouble sleeping at least four nights a week. The culprit was thought to be menopause, because night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings can all affect your sleep gas, and stomach cramps can occur for a variety of reasons. But if they start getting more common in your 40s, it's probably because of—you guessed it—hormones. If you often experience digestive issues or stomach cramps when you're on your period, you may experience the same thing during menopause. But since abdominal cramps are linked with many other health conditions, it's worth mentioning the symptom to your you constantly find yourself chugging water and running to the bathroom, you may want to mention it to a doctor. Increased thirst and urination can be signs of diabetes, especially if you're experiencing fatigue and weakness too. As you age, your risk of developing type II diabetes increases, and being overweight makes the condition more likely, says Dr. loss is mainly hereditary for both men and women, but hormones can play a role as well. Menopause often causes your estrogen levels to drop, making your hair thin, fall out, or take on a new texture. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. They may be able to recommend a supplement or some other kind of it sounds counterintuitive, heavy periods are actually a sign of menopause. Your fluctuating hormones can throw off your menstrual schedule, causing some of your periods to be heavier and last longer than you're sweating less and struggling to stay warm, bring it up with your doctor—these could be signs of thyroid dysfunction. 'Thyroid dysfunction is the most common hormonal imbalance in women,' Dr. Shepherd explains. Other symptoms include dry skin, thinning hair, fatigue, and weight often deal with mood swings from puberty. But as menopause creeps up, the hormonal changes—and emotions that accompany them—can feel unbearable. Dr. Bhatia says learning how to manage stress is essential to maintaining your quality of life. 'Stress drives cortisol, which drives disease,' she says. 'Managing stress … is a skill that everyone needs to learn and practice to stay healthy.'Caused by low levels of estrogen, vaginal dryness is incredibly common during middle age. If the dryness is bothering you, talk to your doctor. They can help you avoid products that cause irritation, and they may even recommend a prescription estrogen you're feeling worried, upset, or unlike yourself, mention it to your doctor. Your symptoms may be the result of hormonal changes during menopause, or they could signal a mental health condition, like anxiety or depression. Other conditions, like Alzheimer's, can also cause you to feel anxious or depressed, Dr. Gaither tend to lose bone density over time, which can lead to osteoporosis—a condition where your bones become weak and brittle. This makes your bones fragile and easy to break. And since osteoporosis often progresses without symptoms, a fracture or break may be the first sign you have you're struggling to concentrate and generally feeling out of it, you may have menopause to thank. But because brain fog is associated with a range of health conditions, it's worth mentioning your brain fog to your doctor—especially if it's you get older, you may not see or hear as well as you used to. That doesn't necessarily mean anything dire, but it's still worth mentioning to your doctor. Getting your sight and hearing checked annually is a great way to adapt to your changing needs and set yourself up for between periods isn't unusual during menopause. But it can also be a sign of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers affecting women. Other symptoms of cervical cancer include pelvic pain, discomfort during sex, and unusual discharge. Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Bhatia, and Dr. Gaither all recommend getting routine pap smears. And be sure to mention anything unusual to your feeling your skin flush, your palms get sweaty, and your face turn red is never fun. But hot flashes are a very normal part of menopause. About 75% of women experience them. And in some cases, they can cause your heart to race or make you feel dizzy. If your hot flashes last more than a few minutes or you consistently feel overheated, talk to your doctor—trouble cooling down can be a symptom of thyroid the occasional bout of diarrhea or constipation is probably nothing to worry about, experiencing either for more than a few days can be a sign of colorectal cancer. Since routine colonoscopies aren't usually recommended until you turn 50, it's worth mentioning concerning GI symptoms to your doctor any time you experience you feel like you're getting sick more than usual, you may not be imagining it. Our immune systems tend to grow weaker as we age, making us more likely to catch common colds and other infections. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors reveal the four words you should avoid saying at your next check-up
You may want to reconsider asking this one, seemingly innocent, question as your doctor steps out the door at your next check-up. Experts across the nation are warning patients against uttering the phrase, 'Just one more thing' at the end of their appointment. Dr Lisa Ravindra, a primary care physician at Rush University Medical Center, said: 'I've heard it many times. I find it's often things that patients are hesitant to bring up at first, and they're working themselves up to be brave enough to discuss it. 'But it's often the most important thing they came in for.' According to Dr Ravindra, patients tend to inform their providers of serious symptoms, such as chest pain and difficulty breathing or side effects due to medications, at the end of their appointments - thinking that they are of no consequence. However, the quick mention of this type of information can make a significant difference in their overall diagnosis, treatment and type of appointment as it can help them better understand the problem, she claims. Additionally, she also noted that doctors tend to end up late to their other appointments when patients bring up deep discussion-worthy symptoms at the end of their own. She told TIME: 'Should I dive into a conversation with them, and be late to see the next patient (and the one after that)? Or should she ask them to schedule another appointment to discuss whatever they brought up? 'Then you risk patients feeling dismissed,' she says. 'They made the decision to finally talk about it, and I'm asking them to talk about it another time.' A 2018 Statista survey found that most physicians spent between 17 and 24 minutes with each patient during the day - a major reason for patient dissatisfaction. Researchers noted that most US doctors saw between 11 and 20 patients each day - which Dr Ravindra claims can make it difficult for her to give ample time to each patient. British doctors, meanwhile, cram in 25 to 40 patients on average a day, while in the European Union, doctors see no more than 25 patients per day to ensure sustainable practice and quality care. Furthermore, Dr Melinda Steele, a primary care physician in California, added: 'The "just one more thing" scenario happens all the time. 'Doctors are like ducks: We're calm and collected on the surface, but we're moving it under the water. 'We're getting blasted from all different directions, having to triage things, go through messages and labs, and see patients in clinic. It's better to not be surprised by a doozy when you're trying to get out the door.' According to both experts, it is better for patients to make a list of all their symptoms and problems beforehand. Dr Steele explained: 'A lot of people come to the doctor's office and they're nervous and forget what they want to bring up, so writing it down can offload some of that and make sure the issues are actually addressed. 'If you have symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, move them to the top of the list and mention them up front.' She also recommends patients book appointments and seek out physicians as soon as they notice a symptom rather than wait and complain about multiple ailments at once. Dr Steele told the magazine: 'It's pretty common for people to come in with a big list of issues, because they feel like there needs to be enough to justify taking time off work. 'Reaching out to your doctor earlier and tackling issues earlier can definitely prevent complications and ensure appointments are as seamless and satisfying as possible.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I'm a cancer surgeon - here's why everyone must learn the three subtle signs of lethal pancreatic cancer
A top cancer surgeon has warned of the three subtle early warning signs of pancreatic cancer which are far too often missed. Dr Ahmed Ezzat, an NHS surgeon urged people to look out for the hidden symptoms of the deadly disease, as data shows four in five patients are diagnosed at late stages, when the prognosis is bleak. 'Pancreatic cancer has some of the poorest outcomes of all cancers,' the surgeon warned in a TikTok video that's so far garnered over 180,900 views. 'Less than 10 per cent of all patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will make it to 10 years after diagnosis. Let's do something about it.' Dubbed the 'silent killer' due to its subtle symptoms which means the disease, pancreatic cancer kills around 100,000 people in the UK every year. This is the equivalent to one death every hour, with pancreatic cancer believed to be one of 14 cancers on the rise. Now, people need to be vigilant and get specific changes to their health investigated by their GP, said Dr Ezzat. The most subtle sign he shared in the video is a change in blood sugar levels, which can present itself as erratic hunger pangs. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the least survivable forms of the disease and worryingly its on the rise. Source for data: Cancer Research UK 'A sign that can be quite subtle is developing type 2 diabetes, or if you're a well-controlled diabetic, suddenly noticing a change in your blood sugars becoming poorly controlled,' he explained. 'This is because the pancreas produces insulin, which is responsible for regulating your blood sugar.' The pancreas is aids digestion and produces hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, which help convert sugar from food into energy. Pancreatic cancer can inhibit the gland from making enough of these hormones—which can lead to unstable blood sugar levels. 'If you notice this symptom, then you need to make sure you get investigated urgently by your GP', Dr Ezzat warned his 53,900 followers. Another little-known sign to be aware of is unexplained abdominal pain, or back pain—which the NHS says may feel worse when eating or lying down, and better when you lean forward. Dr Ezzat said: 'If you notice signs of abdominal aches or back pain then this is really important to get investigated by your GP because this could be a sign of pancreatic cancer.' According to the NHS, symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated, are also a red flag. However, not everyone with pancreatic cancer will experience abdominal pain. The final warning sign to look out for is jaundice, the medic said. 'Jaundice is yellowing in the skin, but can start off most obviously in the whites of the eyes,' the NHS surgeon explained. There are a lot of possible causes of jaundice—often caused by a build of a yellow substance called bilirubin in the body—including liver disease or cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, jaundice is more common in people whose cancer develops in the head of pancreas, meaning the tumour blocks the bile duct. This duct normally carries bile into the small bowel, but when it becomes blocked, the bile leaks into the bloodstream, turning the skin yellow. However, Dr Ezzat said it is often easier to spot in the whites of the eyes rather than the skin. Other common symptoms of the deadly cancer include loss of appetite, fatigue, a high temperature, feeling or being sick, and diarrhoea or constipation. Dr Ezzat'swarning comes as research published earlier this year suggested that more than half of patients diagnosed with the six 'least curable' cancers—including lung, liver, brain, oesophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancers—die within a year of their diagnosis. More than 90,000 people are diagnosed with one of these deadly cancers in the UK every year, accounting for nearly half of all common cancer deaths, according to Cancer Research UK. Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman is just one of the many celebrities who has died of pancreatic cancer, just six months after his diagnosis in 2016. Around 10,500 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year, and more than half of patients will die within three months of diagnosis. Less than even per cent live for five years. There are currently no early detection tests and approximately 80 per cent of people are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, meaning life-saving treatment is no longer possible.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
"The Nurse Practitioner Freaked Out": 20 Seemingly Small Symptoms That Can Indicate A Much Larger Problem
If you're anything like me, a sudden stomach pain might have you spiraling on WebMD, reading about worst-case scenarios. But in all seriousness, there are a handful of seemingly innocent medical symptoms that could actually indicate a real problem. Redditor BigTuna0890 asked, "What is a 'seems to be harmless' symptom that requires an immediate trip to the ER?" Here's what people said. (However, please note that this post is not meant to take the place of medical advice.) 1."A migraine that's much more painful than usual. Apparently, a stroke is not always accompanied by the other well-known symptoms. I'm on blood thinners now." —Either_Cow_4727 2."Headache and a neck so stiff that you're unable to look straight up. It could be a sign of meningitis (inflammation and swelling of the brain) that has gone so far that your brain is pressing down on the brainstem. And it could be lethal within hours." —fiendishrabbit 3."This might not be 'immediate trip to the ER,' but it certainly is 'make a doctor's appointment ASAP'. If you notice a red spot on one breast that isn't going away, if you have new orange-peel-like dimpling on one breast, or one breast appears swollen, any of those can be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. That's a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that's usually only found in more advanced stages. You usually don't have a lump." —Friendly_Coconut 4."Superficial burns to the face typically from BBQ or stove-lighting accidents. It may seem like just some singed eyebrows, but if you were inhaling at all when the accident happened, you could have burned the inside of your throat. Most people present with normal breathing, but as the injured tissues swell, it can close the airway. Most of these people feel fine directly following the accident and end up intubated if they make it to the hospital." —r4dio_c4mbodia 5."Sudden change in vision. In my case, it turned out to be a brain tumor. I waited too long, and now my vision loss is permanent. But I went early enough to still be alive." —MeinAltIstGut 6."Prolonged breathlessness. Mine turned out to be a serious pulmonary embolism. Lucky to have survived the six-hour wait for treatment." —KaraD23383 Related: 19 Wholesome Posts I Found On The Internet This Week That Are So Urgently Needed Right Now 7."If you've recently taken an impact to the abdomen, pain in the left shoulder can signify a ruptured spleen (though you'll most likely experience other symptoms)." —SkierGirl78 8."Hit your head hard? Get it checked out. I had a friend who fell out of a chair at a work party and hit his head hard on the ground. He shook it off. Then he started complaining about vision problems over the next several weeks. His work performance suffered. Between work and his wife, the people around him pieced together that he could no longer read at the same level. It wasn't his vision, it was his comprehension. He couldn't even perceive what was actually wrong. Long story short, it was a serious traumatic brain injury. He had to go on disability and into rehabilitation therapy for over a year." —CustomerDelicious816 9."For those who are biologically female, losing your period or prolonged amenorrhea is oftentimes a sign of something larger going on that's attributed by doctors as stress. Always get it checked!" —almightychloee Related: 19 Wholesome Posts I Saw This Week That Were So Cute, They Legitimately Put Me In A Happier Mood 10."Irregular heartbeat. It's not to be ignored. I had an irregular heartbeat for a day or two. Went to the doc. She immediately called an ambulance. I was in the hospital in the heart ward for 3 days with atrial fibrillation. The doctors had to knock me out and zap me twice to get my heart back into a proper rhythm." —dntdrmit 11."Cat bites. They can become infected super easily and become a problem. It may not be an 'OMG you're gonna die' situation, but definitely take a trip soon to get any cat bites checked. Even if the cut is not deep." —Rest_In_Many_Pieces 12."Watery discharge during pregnancy. I was 25 weeks pregnant and noticed some watery discharge/ I was confused; I might have been peeing myself a little. If you Google 'watery discharge while pregnant,' Google tells you it's totally normal. I felt totally normal otherwise and had no cramping, blood, or anything else. I called my OB after about 12 hours of this, just to check in after my husband felt concerned. I expected her to set up an appointment with me the next day, or go to urgent care in the morning, but she said to go to the ER immediately..." "...Once I arrived at the ER, I expected to wait for hours. But they admitted me immediately. Turns out my water had broken (I was expecting a huge gush like you see in the movies!), and I was having contractions 1 minute apart that I couldn't feel, and I was going into preterm labor. At 25 weeks, I was still in my second trimester, hadn't planned a baby shower, and labor was something that felt a long way off... I hadn't even started prepping our nursery! I spent 46 days in the antepartum unit of the hospital on magnesium drips and trying to delay labor as much as possible, and ended up having my baby at 32 weeks. After my long hospital stay and some time he spent in the NICU, he's a happy and healthy one-year-old now!" —Zealousideal_Elk_150 13."Feeling pain in your lower back that feels like it's moving towards your belly button is a huge sign of appendicitis. You've got 48-72 hours to treat it before it bursts." —PepsiMaxHoe 14."Sudden loss of hearing in one ear. If it doesn't recover within a few hours, get yourself to the ER immediately. You have about 24-26 hours during which treatment can bring your hearing back. After that, it's permanent." —Away-Meal-9313 15."A constant 'runny nose.' Especially if its clear, watery, and coming from only one nostril. And especially if it gets worse when you strain or stand, improves when you lie down, is sort of salty/metallic tasting, or is accompanied by new headaches, neck pain, or light sensitivity. That's your cerebrospinal fluid. That shouldn't be on the outside of your body." —please_have_humanity 16."I started having really weird 'day dreams' more and more often (first out of the blue). Turns out they were partial seizures and I had a tumor growing in my brain." —Alwayssleepy1717 17."I got a small cut, a little more than a scratch, on my arm cleaning under a conveyor at work. The sort of thing one barely notices. It was black with coal dust, so I rinsed it off. I didn't give it a good soap and water scrub until I got home several hours later. A few days later, I had a dark red bump with what looked like a pimple on it where the scratch had been. I figured it could be an infection, but there was no pain or discomfort, so I figured it would heal..." "...After a few days of it remaining the same, it suddenly grew larger and nastier looking. Still no pain or discomfort. I figured I needed antibiotics, so I made an appointment with my doctor. It was going to be a few days. When talking to my mom, who is a nurse, on the phone, she said it's serious and if I can't see the doctor that same day, then I need to go to urgent care. I went to urgent care, and the nurse practitioner didn't seem too worried. Then I rolled my sleeve all the way up, and they saw red streaks going from the infected area up towards my armpit. I was very surprised by what happened next since I imagine people in urgent care see all sorts of bad stuff. They freaked out, saying I needed to go to the emergency room immediately. They asked if I felt ok and could drive myself. When I said yes, they said they'd call the hospital and give them my info and let them know I'm coming. They said I may have to stay for a couple days on IV antibiotics because I had sepsis, an infection spreading through my blood stream.I had to get lots of medicine, but I only stayed in the hospital for one day. Apparently, it was so serious because once the infection passes a certain threshold, people go from feeling fine, like I did, to deathly ill in minutes. Make sure to clean any cuts well right away." —Puzzled-Dust-7818 18."Sweet smelling breath! It could be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis." —butterf1y 19."Before I was admitted to the ICU for two weeks, I had muscle tetany (it felt like pins/needles) in my feet, arms, chest, and weirdly enough, what felt like my nose for weeks. I thought it was just poor circulation, but turns out I had undetectable potassium and phosphate levels, which did bad damage to my liver and kidneys. I went months without going to the ER because I thought I was being dramatic. Never write things off. It's always better to look overly cautious than wind up dead." —almightychloee Do you have something to add? What is a seemingly minor or innocent symptom that could be indicative of a serious medical condition? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form. Also in Goodful: 30 Absolutely Wild Medical Facts You've Probably Never Heard Of But Probably Should Hear Also in Goodful: Men Are Sharing Things They Wish More Women Had Sympathy For, And I'm Already Laughing At How Women Will Respond To Some Of These Also in Goodful: A Woman Went Viral For Not Tipping On A $350 Hair Service, So We Asked Hairstylists To Weigh In
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors warn these seemingly small health symptoms should not be ignored
Have you ever had a weird ache that had you umming and ahhing about whether to book a doctor's appointment? Or wondered if you need to get this probably minor thing checked out? Our modern lives of overworking, poor sleep routines and general life stress all exacerbate a wide variety of symptoms. However, there are some things that, though seemingly small, may require a second opinion. The Independent spoke to Dr Lori Solomon, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at New York Medical College, and Dr Estelle Williams, medical director for CityMD for the southern New Jersey region to get their thoughts on which symptoms should really not be ignored. Waking up in the middle of the night needing to pee is totally normal, Solomon tells The Independent. But if that's something you're doing two or three times per night – every night – that might be indicative of a more serious problem. Over-frequent urination can be a symptom of diabetes. 'When your sugar is high, one of the ways the body tries to get rid of the sugar, is to get rid of it through the urine,' Soloman says. 'During the day, you just go to the bathroom more often, but at nighttime, you often have to wake up.' Williams agrees, adding that other worrying signs can be feeling more thirsty and a significant increase in appetite. 'Those are the types of things I think need to be checked sooner rather than later,' she says. Any pain that wakes you up during the night could be a problem. While pulled muscles, physical injuries, or other discomforts may hinder someone getting to sleep – they shouldn't be disturbing you once you're asleep, Solomon says. 'If you're waking up in the middle of the night with a headache, you've got a problem… because usually we don't wake up with headaches in the middle of the night,' she says. 'If that's waking you up at night – I'm a little bit more worried about that.' Headaches are 'super common,' and shouldn't necessarily be considered worrisome, Solomon says. However, if a headache is accompanied by other things such as vision changes, nausea tingling in the extremities, weakness – those may be a sign that something neurological is going on. Williams cautions those who jump to label sudden, severe headaches as migraines. 'A migraine is actually a very specific diagnosis and headache pattern, requiring neurologic evaluation,' she says. 'It's good that you get evaluated if you're having a headache that's unusual for you, if it's very intense.' Such high-intensity episodes, coming on quickly and out of nowhere, can be what is known as 'thunderclap headaches' should definitely necessitate a trip to the emergency room, says Solomon. Another symptom that crops up fairly frequently that shouldn't be ignored is sudden shortness of breath – especially if it's not something you've experienced before, says Williams. 'If you're like, 'that's weird. I was just doing my regular activities and I became very winded and short of breath,' get that checked,' she says. 'I would also say, if you take a deep breath and you develop pain in your chest or your back that you've never had before, that can sometimes be a soft sign for a blood clot in the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism, that we certainly want to see for sooner rather than later. Fatigue too – while common in many people due to hectic work schedules or other lifestyle commitments – should not be significantly interfering with things you would do day-to-day such as exercising, Solomon adds. In very severe cases, fatigue can be symptomatic of heart disease, sleep apnea, and even some cancers. There is one less obvious and very typical symptom of heart disease. 'It's very common for people who are having a heart attack to think they're having indigestion,' Solomon says. 'If you're taking a walk and all of a sudden you feel like, 'Oh, I've got some indigestion', and then it gets better when you stop walking, that's your heart.' A combination of fatigue and indigestion, unconnected to a big meal, is something that people should see the doctor about, she says. It could be due to a lack of blood flow to the heart. Williams says that bouts of indigestion-like symptoms – pressure or tightness – that last for 15 minutes or 20 minutes can be telling, especially for those who do not typically suffer from indigestion or heartburn. 'Sometimes people think 'Oh, I just ate something weird, and I must have a bubble of gas in my chest,' she says. 'That sensation of indigestion is something that can be an indicator of heart disease… It can be a masker of something more serious.' Monitor your bowels, says Williams, because being constipated or having diarrhea is something that's different is worth getting checked out. And while it may seem obvious, seeing blood in either your poop or pee is definitely something to see a doctor about. 'If you're having a change of bowel habits – if you see black stool or a lot of blood when you're using the restroom, I feel like that's perhaps not a subtle sign,' William says. 'That's something a little more concerning that means you should come in.' People often associate blood in the stool as a hemorrhoid, but should not be ignored as it can be a common presentation for colon cancer, according to Solomon. 'In general you generally don't want to see blood in the urine either,' she says. 'But that's usually kidney stones or urinary tract infections.' Solomon also warns people to pay attention when things just don't clear up on their own. 'If there's a cough lasting more than four weeks, you generally want to see somebody about that,' Solomon says. 'There's lots of reasons you can have a cough, but generally, if you have a cough after a cold, it generally goes away in a few weeks. So if it lasts longer than a month, we generally want to know about that.' Williams agrees, adding that things that have been happening for months that may seem innocuous may still be worth investigating. Losing weight unintentionally is definitely something worth mentioning to your primary care doctor. Above all, Solomon recommends that to avoid anything too concerning, take regular visits to your primary care physician, who is better qualified to notice any changes, concerning or otherwise. She encourages people to be over, rather than under-cautious. 'Sometimes people feel silly about coming in with all these different symptoms, but I don't think we could expect that people are going to know everything that doctors know,' she says. 'I'd rather say it's nothing and reassure them than miss something that could be really serious if we didn't catch it in time.'
