3 Health Problems That Women Often Ignore But Shouldn't
Unfortunately, women tend to ignore subtle signs of illness until they are too sick to ignore them anymore. In some cases, this can be the difference between life and death. These three symptoms can be the signs of serious disease or health problems and should never be overlooked. If you're worried about overlooking health problems, read on and look at more info on signs of deeper issues you shouldn't ignore.
Acute Fatigue
Women often run themselves ragged at work and at home, so fatigue is nothing new to them. However, when extreme fatigue comes on suddenly and doesn't improve after proper rest, it can be a symptom of something quite serious.
Hypothyroidism—more and more women are currently being diagnosed with underfunctioning thyroid. Your thyroid controls so many bodily functions that if it isn't functioning properly, it can make you very ill. Finding the actual cause of hypothyroidism can be challenging, but in the meantime, there are hormone replacement treatments that will help you feel normal again.
Anemia—as busy as women are, they sometimes get into bad eating habits and can become deficient in one or more essential nutrients. The most common anemias are iron and vitamin B12, which are easily treated with supplements. However, some anemias are associated with chronic or serious illness, including sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia or bone marrow diseases such as leukemia.
Abdominal Problems
Many women consider occasional bloating, pain, diarrhea or constipation just a normal part of life, and in most cases, they are just that. If these symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, though, you should see your family doctor for further diagnosis. Abdominal problems may also signal serious conditions such as
- ovarian or colon cancer
- inflammatory bowel syndrome
- diverticulitis
- Chrohn's disease
- food sensitivities or allergies
Chest Pain
While it used to be far down on the list, heart disease is now the leading cause of death for women. Symptoms of heart disease are often not as pronounced in women as in men. Some commonly overlooked symptoms of heart disease in women are
- Unusual fatigue
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
- Lightneadedness or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea and vomiting
Women often do not have the crushing chest pain associated with most heart attacks, and may show up in the emergency room after the damage is already done, because their symptoms were much more subtle and passed off as something else.
Your first step to wellness is to see your family physician as soon as these symptoms occur, when he can treat you successfully without the need for a specialist.
