Seven symptoms you should never ignore

Many young people ignore symptoms that could indicate underlying health conditions (Photo: iStock) Your body is exposed to numerous disease-causing agents day in and day out. With the energy of youthfulness, it is easy to overlook certain symptoms. As much as headache, nausea and fatigue can be a sign of flu, such symptoms could indicate a bigger problem in women. Swelling and pain in one leg: That painful swelling that does not go away, could mean that you could have a blood clot inside a vein. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). According to Pathologists Lancet Kenya, DVT can develop if you do not move for a long time such as when travelling long distances or working sedentary. Most young women are enjoying the online workspace, which unfortunately limits physical movements. DVT is a serious condition because the blood clots may break loose, travel through the circulatory system and lodge in the lungs, blocking blood flow that could lead to death. Vision changes: Poor vision tends to progress over time. However, when you experience sudden double vision or the inability to focus in the middle of what you are looking at, you need to seek prompt medical attention. Such changes could indicate a stroke. "Common symptoms include a sudden numbness or weakness on any limb, facial drooping, difficulty in speaking or understanding speech, sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, trouble seeing with one or both eyes, severe headache and drowsiness", says Dr Edwin Mogere, a Neurosurgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital. Bleeding moles: A mole is a growth on the skin that is formed by a cluster of melanocytes - melanin-making cells. A mole is usually dark and may be raised from the skin. As highlighted in the Avane Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic and Medical Spa, moles darken after sun exposure and pregnancy. Moles are normally nothing to worry about except when they bleed or change their form. Moles are likely to be cancerous when they are asymmetrical in appearance, have an irregular border, change colour, shape and size and are bigger than a pencil eraser. Weight gain could mean an entirely different and serious problem when the increase is unexplained (Photo: iStock) Dramatic weight gain: Even though most women find it challenging to get rid of baby weight due to uncontrollable cravings when they were 'eating for two', weight gain could mean an entirely different and serious problem when the increase is unexplained. We gain weight when the amount of calorie intake does not balance with physical activities. However, hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalance may cause unintentional weight gain. If you are finding it hard to tame your waistline, you could be looking at conditions that need prompt medical attention. Weight loss without doing much: Weight loss is usually celebrated after dieting or working out for a while. However, if you seem to be dropping your kilos for no good reason, you should seek medical attention. Hyperthyroidism, depression, autoimmune diseases and cancer could explain the sudden weight loss. Blood in urine and faeces: Essentially, all kinds of bleeding when and where they should not be are usually something to worry about. Rectal bleeding or blood in stool is one of the symptoms of colorectal cancer. Blood in stool has also been linked to stomach ulcers. Bright red blood in the stool indicates bleeding near the rectum. On the other hand, dark-coloured blood with stool shows that bleeding is likely to be higher up in the bowels. Non-menstrual bleeding warrants medical examination as it could be due to cervix inflammations, ectopic pregnancy or cervical cancer. Hair thinning: Hairstyling and chemicals cause a small degree of hair loss. However, when you seem to be losing a significant amount of hair regularly, it may indicate a more serious problem. Likely scenarios could be vitamin deficiency or autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

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