Your body's got your back. Whenever something isn't quite right
wellness-wise, your body will often try to send you a signal that a
health hazard may be brewing beneath the surface.
The problem? For starters, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, women (ahem) report that they skip out on going to the doctor because they're too busy or can't get the day off work. And, honestly, sometimes it feels easier to ignore whatever is going on.
The problem? For starters, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, women (ahem) report that they skip out on going to the doctor because they're too busy or can't get the day off work. And, honestly, sometimes it feels easier to ignore whatever is going on.
But remember: "It's important to diagnose things
early before they have the potential to cause more serious, and
sometimes irreversible, effects," says Margarita Rohr, MD, a clinical
instructor of internal medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New
York City. "When something unusual happens, consider it an alert that
something isn't right and get it addressed." Here, some signs it's time
for you to get to the damn doctor.
1. Swollen Legs
Are
your lower extremities looking especially swole (and not because you've
been deadlifting)? This is called edema, and it could be a marker of a
thyroid issue (or even something more serious with your heart or
kidneys), Rohr says. It's important to see your health-care provider,
because while thyroid disorders can be kept under control, the treatment
methods range from going on medication to starting a specialized exercise routine.
2. Long Ring Fingers
Wait, so your body is giving you health intel through the length of your fingers? Possibly, according to a study
conducted by the University of Nottingham. The research found that if
your ring finger is longer than your index finger, it could be a sign
that you're at a greater risk for osteoarthritis, especially in the
knees. Study authors couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why.
Here's the thing: Keep up with a regular exercise routine,
and maintain a healthy weight, and you can push back against any
potential predispositions. But still talk to your doctor (obviously).
3. Cravings for Ice
If
you're always heading for the freezer and bypassing the cookie dough
frozen yogurt — for, uh, ice — that may mean you have an iron
deficiency, Rohr says. Why? People who suffer from a serious lack of
iron often experience pica — a disorder that causes you to crave things
with no nutritional value, specifically ice (although sometimes people
reach for non-food items, like dirt or paper).
Your
doc will have the best course of treatment, but adding iron-rich foods
(red meat, leafy greens, iron-fortified cereals) into your diet will
help, along with Vitamin C, which allows your body to better absorb the
iron.
4. Wrinkles in Weird Places
It's true: Beauty is only skin deep. But sometimes, what's going outside your body could actually be an indicator of what's going inside of it. Honestly, most wrinkles are likely just a sign of aging (womp), but one study published in The Journals of Gerontology found
a different reason: high blood pressure. The research found that women
with wrinkles in places typically not exposed to the sun, like the upper
arms, tended to have hypertension. If that's the case, it may be time
to talk to your doctor about cutting back on the cocktails and salt.
5. Bad Breath
It
might be time to move beyond popping a breath mint. Chronic bad breath
can be a sign of gingivitis, Rohr says. When you don't deal with it,
gingivitis can turn into a more serious form of gum disease, which can
lead to tooth loss. Make sure you're brushing and flossing to keep bad
oral hygiene in check.
6. Dark Urine
Wondering
if pee the color of a dark IPA is a cryptic sign from your body that
something isn't right? Uh, yeah. It's likely an indicator that you're
dehydrated. In that case, drink up! But the murky color may also be due
to blood in your urine, which could signal a potential problem with your
kidneys or liver, Rohr says. You need to talk to your doctor, but if
you want to give your kidneys a health boost in the meantime, hydrate,
focus on eating healthy, and exercise regularly.
7. Black Poop
Ew,
TMI, something you shouldn't just flush and forget about — yes to all
of the above. But according to Rohr, if your stool goes dark, it could
be a sign of internal bleeding, often due to a stomach ulcer. Call it
quits on the spicy food and give your doctor a ring ASAP.
No comments:
Post a Comment