10 early warning symptoms you should never ignore

By Tyrone M. Reyes, M.D.

Some conditions, such as high blood pressure or osteoporosis, don’t announce their arrival with obvious symptoms but instead are detected during physical examination and medical tests. But many other diseases and health-related problems manifest themselves with early warning signs that are important and should not be ignored.

While you don’t need to rush to the doctor with every unexplained muscle twinge or upset stomach, you also don’t want to ignore symptoms that could lead to early treatment before a condition becomes life-threatening. And you can’t always sit back and assume everything will get better on its own. So, you are going to have better outcomes if you seek early treatment.

You may find some of the symptoms on the following list a bit surprising. Being aware of their possible significance and seeking timely medical care could make a difference in your quality of life and, in certain instances, possibly save your life.

A List Worth Keeping

Your body constantly informs you of its needs. Some messages are more urgent than others. When it comes to your health, don’t ignore the following symptoms. In many instances, they’re connected to manageable and treatable conditions that respond to timely care.

1. A cough that lasts longer than one month. You can usually recognize the kind of coughs associated with colds or flu. They often respond to over-the-counter or prescription medications and, after a week or two, they usually subside. Coughing that continues over a long period is caused by an underlying problem such as asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis or even lung cancer. Some blood pressure drugs can also cause chronic cough. If you have a cough that lingers for more than a month, is affecting your sleep or brings up blood or sputum, a checkup is in order.

2. Blood in your urine or stool. If you see blood in your stool, it could be anything from mild hemorrhoids or irritation of the anus or colon to colon cancer. If you see bright-red blood in the stool or in the toilet bowl more than once, see your doctor. If you see darker, more tar-like blood in the stool, it may be a sign of a problem farther up the intestinal tract, such as stomach ulcers.

Blood in the urine is quite serious. It also could mean various conditions, ranging from kidney stones to a urinary tract infection to cancer. Don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you have blood in your urine, and be able to describe the blood’s appearance and whether it started at the beginning of urination or at the end.

3. Wounds that don’t heal. If a cut or similar injury fails to heal in a reasonable amount of time, or looks worse as time goes on, see your doctor. A wound that doesn’t start to heal within two weeks and hasn’t completely healed in four to six weeks should be seen by your physician. It could be an indication of infection or some other metabolic explanation, like diabetes or other circulation problems. In any case, it’s not something to ignore.

4. Sad or depressed mood. Everyone gets the blues from time to time. But if you feel sad for weeks or months, you may be experiencing depression. Other signs and symptoms that can accompany depression include losing interest in normal activities, feeling hopeless or worthless, crying easily, having trouble focusing or concentrating, difficulty making decisions, unintentional weight gain or loss, or thoughts of wanting to die. If you’re experiencing these problems, call your doctor for an evaluation. Depression isn’t a sign of weakness, a normal part of aging, or something to be ashamed of. It’s a medical illness that is treatable.

5. Vaginal bleeding after menopause. If you’ve reached menopause — haven’t had a period for 12 months or more — you should no longer be experiencing vaginal bleeding. If you do notice spotting and bleeding after menopause, this may come from vaginal tissue, which can become thinner and more fragile when your body’s estrogen levels decrease. But in some cases, postmenopausal bleeding may be due to gynecologic cancer, so it’s important to have a medical evaluation.

6. Persistent fever. If your immune system is normal and you’re not on drugs such as chemotherapy for cancer, even a persistent low-grade fever should be evaluated if it lasts for a week or more. If you have a fever associated with violent chills, or a high-grade fever or you’re severely ill in any other way, get evaluated right away by your physician.

Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant conditions — such as lymphomas — could cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can other medications and conditions, and reactions to certain drugs.

Fever is common with treatable infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, further evaluation is in order.

7. Change in bowel habits. Bowel habits can vary from person to person. But if you have a mild diarrhea that lasts more than a week, constipation that lasts for more than two weeks or have unexplained, sudden urges to have a bowel movement, see your doctor. The same goes for bloody diarrhea. Diarrhea could signal the presence of an infection or be a side effect of certain medications. It can also be caused by a digestive disorder. Constipation alone may not be cause for alarm. But if it occurs with other symptoms — such as bloody or blackened stools, cramping, abdominal pain, or nausea and vomiting — it’s possible that colon cancer or another serious problem is to blame.

8. Shortness of breath. It’s normal to have minor breathing difficulty through your nose if you have severe nasal congestion. Strenuous exercise can also result in some breathlessness. However, if you ever find that you’re unable to get your breath or that you’re gasping for air or wheezing, seek immediate medical care. Feeling breathless with or without exertion or when reclining is also a symptom that needs to be evaluated by your doctor. Causes of breathlessness range considerably. Some causes are chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders — such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, panic attacks, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.

9. Feeling full after eating very little. Feeling fuller than normal after eating less than usual (early satiety) could be a warning sign of numerous gastrointestinal problems, ranging from harmless to serious. Causes might include indigestion due to acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, it also could indicate certain cancers, such as those of the pancreas, stomach or ovaries. See your doctor if you feel persistent stomach fullness for days or weeks, or if you have other accompanying signs and symptoms — such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain or bloating, fever and chills, or weight loss.

10. Hot, red or swollen joint. These warning signs may occur with a joint infection, which requires prompt care to save the joint and keep bacteria from spreading elsewhere. Other causes may include gout or certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Although not every ache, pain or unusual occurrence may indicate a serious problem, it’s important not to discount symptoms that come on suddenly, have no explanation, or linger.

If any of these symptoms occur, you should see your primary physician. He/she can either determine what the problem is or refer you to the right specialist for a diagnosis.

So, the bottom line is: When any of these 10 early warning signs appear, don’t ignore it. Prompt action may help you avert a serious condition!