Don’t Ignore These 12 Symptoms Your Body Might Be Signaling

Experts list 12 symptoms that no one should overlook, ranging from abrupt weight loss to loud snoring.

TFD –

In India, we tend to ignore our body’s warning signs and don’t consult a doctor unless we think they are serious. That being said, there are a dozen symptoms on our list that you should not disregard as your body is trying to alert you to the fact that you need medical attention.

1. Abrupt symptoms

A. Speech impediment

According to Mumbai-based senior physician and critical care specialist Dr. Roohi Pirzada, symptoms such as slurred speech could indicate a dangerous illness.

She goes on to say that it can be a sign of a continuing hemorrhagic stroke. Additionally, metabolic syndrome disorders such as:

• Low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Liver-related brain issues (hepatic encephalopathy)
• High ammonia levels in the blood (hyperammonemia)
• Viral brain infections (viral encephalopathy)
• Bacterial infections can cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord (infectious meningitis).

According to her, “These symptoms should be considered an emergency because they could lead to an irreversible condition that leaves the person disabled.”

B. Modification of mental state

According to Dr. Vandana Boobna, associate director of internal medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, “a sudden change in mental condition now refers to experiencing symptoms like confusion or disorientation which may signal various neurological emergencies, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, severe infection, or metabolic imbalance.” Confusion or disorientation are symptoms that can indicate a number of neurological crises, including stroke. Image courtesy of Unsplash

C. Light flashes and an increase in floaters

• Experiencing “flashes of light” means seeing brief, spark-like flashes in your vision.
• These flashes can occur in one or both eyes and may appear as jagged lines or as a sudden burst of light.
• On the other hand, “increased floaters” refer to the perception of more spots, squiggles, or thread-like strands drifting across your field of vision.
• Dr Harsha K, Senior Consultant and General Ophthalmology and Phacoemulsification specialist at Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, Indiranagar, Bangalore says flashes of light or Photopsia is a “common symptom” experienced by most people at least once during their lifetime.
• The most common causes are ageing, people with high minus power, previous eye surgery, migraine and eye conditions like vitreomacular traction or eye trauma.
• But both conditions can be serious, according to Dr Rajeev Gupta, director, of internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.

According to Dr. Gupta, “these visual abnormalities may be a sign of retinal detachment, which is a condition requiring prompt medical evaluation, or a tear in your retina, which is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that pulls away from its normal position.”

D. Pain in the chest

• India is seeing a steady hike in heart-related cases.
• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there was a 12.5 per cent increase in heart attack cases in 2022, with over 32,457 people dying from heart attacks in that year.

Not all chest pains can be cause for concern, as Dr. Sunil Dwivedi, consultant cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, Millers Road in Bangalore, explains.

He cites the following examples of sudden chest pain: burning or heaviness in the chest, occasionally extending to the right or left hand, and radiating from the jaw to the navel.

“Such sudden chest pain should raise concern about an underlying heart issue, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest,” adds Dr Dwivedi.

He goes on to say that, however, pain that is localized to extremely small places typically does not signal a heart attack.

“This discomfort subsides in a matter of seconds or is made worse by bending, turning, or coughing. Numerous other factors may also contribute to this kind of discomfort, the doctor explains.

2. Unexplained symptoms

A. Loss of weight

If you are losing weight a little too much, a little too fast, be cautious. Unintentional weight loss could signal underlying health problems like thyroid disorders. Photo: Pexels

Never discount weight reduction that seems inexplicable. A noteworthy reduction in weight is defined as having shed over 4.5 kg in six months (without exercising), according to Dr. Manira Dhasmana, associate consultant in the internal medicine department at Max Healthcare, Dehradun.

In agreement, Dr. Boobna adds that inadvertent weight loss may indicate underlying medical issues such as thyroid conditions, diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal illnesses, or even cancer.

B. Blood in the feces or urine

Blood in your urine or stool may be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding, urinary tract infections, or even more serious illnesses like colorectal cancer, according to both specialists, Drs. Gupta and Boobna.

C. Breathlessness

Experts advise that you should act on your shortness of breath as soon as you feel it coming on.

Dr. Dwivedi, for example, argues that abrupt, severe dyspnea is indicative of dangerous illnesses like:

• Lung infections
• Pneumonia
• Pneumothorax
• Heart failure

But as far as he was concerned, persistent or slowly building dyspnea may also be caused by heart failure, lung difficulties from the past or present, anemia or muscle exhaustion, or even renal failure.

3. Extended Symptoms

A scratchy throat or coughing

According to Dr. Gupta, if you have experienced hoarseness or coughing once, it is not a major concern. On the other hand, prolonged coughing or hoarseness may indicate:

• Respiratory infections
• Allergies
• Even throat cancer

B. Noisy Snoring

Are there people you know that snore so loudly that other people can’t sleep close to them? Their snoring, though, could be a symptom of something more. While snoring is normal, according to Dr. Gupta, overly loud or bothersome snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that can have major health consequences. While snoring is normal, according to Dr. Gupta, it may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea if it is very loud or annoying. Image courtesy of Pexels

In agreement, Dr. Dwivedi notes that loud snoring may be a sign of a “pretty unhealthy status, and it needs to be diagnosed and treated” if it has occurred recently.

According to Dr. Dwivedi, “it indicates compromised airways during sleep and causes low oxygen levels and tremendous sympathetic stress on the heart.” These conditions can exacerbate diabetes, raise blood pressure, trigger heart attacks, and worsen heart failure.

C. Extreme exhaustion

It’s normal to feel exhausted, and sometimes taking the appropriate kind of rest could help you feel better. On the other hand, Dr. Gupta says that excessive weariness that interferes with day-to-day activity could indicate underlying medical illnesses including depression, thyroid issues, or anemia.

4. Odd Symptoms

According to Dr. Boobna, you may be experiencing odd symptoms as a result of underlying medical issues. For example, if you’re experiencing:

A. Severe thirst

Dr. Boobna claims that severe and chronic thirst may indicate a number of illnesses, including:

• Diabetes
• Dehydration
• Certain hormonal imbalances.

She continues, “Ignoring excessive thirst may lead to electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, or complications related to untreated diabetes.”

B. Lips and throat tingling and itching

Dr Gupta says that if you’re experiencing itchiness and tingling in your lips and throat, it could indicate allergic reactions, “ranging from mild to severe allergic reaction, which indicates direct medical attention”.

Recall

Seeking prompt medical attention if you experience any of these 12 symptoms can have a big impact on the early identification and management of possible health problems.

Ignoring these warning indicators could cause problems or cause underlying diseases to take longer to get treated.

Recall that your body frequently expresses what it needs through symptoms, so pay close attention and put your health and wellbeing first.