The human body is amazing. It works 24/7, enabling people to go about their lives and perform necessary functions, and in many cases, it enables people to do more than just the basics and accomplish the extraordinary. As amazing as the body can be though, it is not infallible and is subject to maladies as simple as broken bones and as serious as strokes and heart attacks. This means that it’s important to be in-tune with your body and recognize what it’s trying to tell you.
While certain problem indicators are quite obvious, such as severe pain, sudden loss of feeling, etc., some health warning signs may not be as obvious and may even mask themselves as some of the common side effects of life. So, while your body will give you noticeable warnings signs if you need to have your appendix or gallbladder removed, or if you have a heart attack, some other health warning signs you should take notice of if you see them consistently.
Tiredness and Fatigue
Life can be exhausting, and tiredness and fatigue are totally normal side effects of living, but if you notice your exhaustion becoming chronic or coming on for no reason, (meaning you’re getting good rest, you’re not overdoing it, etc.), then you may want to see a doctor. Even if your tiredness or fatigue is not a symptom of an underlying issue such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder, if you’re experiencing them chronically and have not received help, they can lead to other issues down the road. For example, chronic exhaustion can sometimes lead to depression and brain fog, or could end up causing an accident—43 percent of people have reported being too tired to function at work which can lead to mistakes and put you and others in dangerous situations.
Headaches
Just like tiredness and fatigue can simply be part of living life, so can headaches. Virtually everyone has or will have a minor headache, and approximately 24 percent of US adults suffer from migraines, but not all headaches or migraines are indicative of an underlying disease. However, severe, frequent, chronic, and migraine headaches may be a symptom of disease in some cases. For example, fibromyalgia, sinus infections, and anemia can each cause headaches as a symptom, and headaches can also be an indicator of other side effects of living life, such as stress and dehydration.
Either way, if you’re experiencing headaches too often, you may want to go see your healthcare provider.
Skin Rash
There are many different things that can cause a rash, including something as simple as skin that is too dry. It’s not always such an innocuous side effect, though. A skin rash can indicate an allergy, psoriasis, or even a disease like celiac. So, if you haven’t been playing in poison ivy or poison oak, haven’t been near anything you know you’re allergic to, and haven’t been washing your hands more often than usual or recently moved to a drier climate, you may want to see a doctor to have your rash checked out. It could be something as simple as an allergic reaction to something you didn’t know about, but it’s possible the cause could be something deeper and more serious.
Constipation
Constipation is another one of those unpleasant but not uncommon side effects of living life. If you’re dehydrated or haven’t been eating enough fiber, you could find yourself having a hard time for a couple of days, but once you get things back in balance, everything should go back to normal. If it doesn’t, though, and constipation seems to be sticking around, you may want to go and see your doctor. Approximately 16 percent of Americans and 33 percent of Americans older than 60 deal with chronic constipation, and if you’re one of them, your doctor may have recommendations on what can help; however, it could also be an indicator of a deeper issue, so seeking medical help is a good idea.
A Short Temper
Everybody has rough days, rough weeks, and even rough months or years and it’s natural to get pushed to your limit and become easily frustrated every now and again, but if you find yourself more easily and more often irritated than before, you should set time aside to see your doctor. Something as simple as being overly tired can cause irritability, but there are other conditions such as depression, low blood sugar, and numerous different infections that can cause you to feel more irritable than usual and have a short temper as a side effect. Again, having a few bad days or weeks may not be something to worry about, but if you or a loved one has noticed you’ve been more irritable and it seems to be without cause, then it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider.
Lingering Cough
There are many different illnesses that can cause you to contract a cough. While there are plenty of simple explanations like hay fever or the common cold, if you can’t seem to kick a cough or it has come on without any explanation, then you will want to see your healthcare provider as soon as possibles. While coughs are often thought of as a side effect to common illnesses like a cold that you could easily pick up from a coworker, they can also indicate something more serious including emphysema, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and more. In many cases, getting immediate care is key to a quicker and smoother recovery.
Should You Be Worried?
The body is amazing and in many cases will let you know if there is something more serious going on than a simple cough, constipation, or fatigue; however, it’s important that you pay attention to your body and what it’s trying to tell you to ensure you get the care you need as soon as you possibly can. So, while you generally do not need to worry about everyday issues, they can sometimes double as symptoms of something more serious. If you’re not sure or if you just can’t seem to get them to go away, it’s important that you see your healthcare provider as soon as you can.
What are your top tips for knowing when it’s time to go to the doctor?
