Regular health check can identify any early symptoms of diseases and early detection can result in better outcomes. If you’re experiencing any of the following subtle symptoms, it’s time you get a health check done.
Unexplained fatigue
Considering our busy lives these days, if the continuous tiredness is overpowering you, it’s an indication of something not being right. There could be many reasons for unexplained fatigue:
- Anaemia: This is the lack of red blood cells caused due to iron deficiency.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: This is the lack of vitamin B12 or poor absorption from the diet.
- Hypothyroidism: In this, the body produces insufficient thyroid hormone.
- Vitamin D deficiency: Low levels of Vitamin D lead to bone and muscle pain and fatigue.
Shortness of breath
If you can’t pull a full breath or feel any pain or discomfort in doing so, you might be suffering from underlying health conditions. Shortness of breath can occur owing to many reasons:
- Overweight: Weighing more than normal as per your age and height can cause breathing difficulties.
- OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs in obese people.
- Asthma: This refers to the inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
- Pneumonia: The fluid and pus build up in the lungs.
- Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure affects arteries in the lungs.
- COPD: This disease leads to shortness of breath and poor lung function.
Frequent headaches
Frequent headaches that can’t be managed and cured by OTC medicines need attention. Chronic headaches are of different kinds and can happen constantly:
- Tension headache: This mild to moderate pain feels like a tight band around the head.
- Migraine headache: In this, the severe pain is accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light & sound.
- Cluster headache: This pain lasts for relatively shorter periods but is excruciating and occurs daily.
- Hypnic headache: This is a rare type of headache and occurs only at night.
Abdominal pain
Pain or severe discomfort in the abdominal area can be abrupt or can slowly intensify with time. Here are some reasons for these stomach aches:
- Upper abdominal pain: Pain and discomfort with burps or sour taste can imply acute gastritis and acid reflux.
- Recurring abdominal pain: Pain and discomfort accompanied by fatigue and appetite loss can indicate anaemia and vitamin deficiencies.
- Pain with vomiting and diarrhoea: This may hint towards a GI tract infection.
- Abdominal pain along with missed periods: This may be a sign of pregnancy. You should take an at-home pregnancy test to be sure. Besides, the doctor may suggest a pregnancy test.
- Terrible abdominal pains along with backache and urinary issues: This may point towards kidney stones or urine infection. The doctor may recommend a kidney function test.
- Abdominal pains during periods (abnormal bleeding): Abnormal or heavy bleeding can be symptoms of PCOD, endometriosis or thyroid issues. Consulting a gynaecologist would be the best move for a better understanding of the problem.
Change in bowel movements
Bowel movements indicate how good your health is. Shifts in bowel habits can be caused by a temporary infection, an underlying disease and various other reasons. These conditions suggest that you need to see a doctor:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This intestinal disorder causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation.
- Crohn’s disease: This inflammatory disease impacts the digestive tract lining.
- Thyroid disorder: Hypothyroidism is an ailment wherein the body produces underactive thyroid, which can lead to constipation.
- Ulcerative colitis: Ulcers develop in the lining of the colon and rectum.
Other symptoms to watch out for:
You should consult a doctor as soon as possible if you’re suffering from any of these conditions. If required, the doctor will do a check-up and may prescribe you certain health check.
A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can prevent most ailments. Regular screenings and annual preventive tests can help your doctor detect your health issues at the very advent and get you on a medication program, which can prevent the condition from deteriorating at a later stage.
Originally published at https://www.mediwy.com on June 11, 2021.
