Considering how busy many of us are in our day-to-day lives it can be tempting to ignore certain seemingly harmless symptoms....CONTINUE READING
While some changes to our bodies could be nothing too major to worry about, other times they are an indicator of something more serious.
With this in mind, an expert spoke with Express.co.uk about three symptoms you should never ignore.
Doctor Natasha Fernando, head of clinical excellence at Medichecks, said: “Our everyday health can feel like a bit of a minefield, and it’s easy to shrug off our symptoms, but there are some symptoms that can be a sign of something bigger, and that shouldn’t be dismissed so easily.”
Sweating more than usual is not always necessarily due to hot weather.
“Excessive sweating can be caused by anxiety, menopause, medications, low blood sugar, and alcohol use,” Dr Fernando said.
“However, it’s important to get checked if sweating is unexplained, as it may be a symptom of conditions like diabetes, thyroid issues, and nervous system disorders.
“Night sweats could also be caused by infections and, very rarely, some cancers like Hodgkin disease.”
According to Cancer Research UK, excessive sweating can be a general sign of cancer.
But is is most common among patients with:
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is often harmless and may go away on its own.
Dr Fernando said: “However, if you have been experiencing tinnitus for a while or it is worsening, do get it checked out; it may be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, or multiple sclerosis.
“Seek emergency medical attention if you experience sudden tinnitus after a head injury, accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness or weakness of the face, severe dizziness, or sudden hearing loss, as these could be indications of a stroke.
“If your tinnitus is less sudden but affects one ear or has a pulsating sound, like a heartbeat, make an urgent appointment with your doctor.
“You may need to undergo further tests to rule out abnormally formed blood vessels or growths.”
It is also known as a symptom of COVID-19.
Legs can become more swollen in the heat or from long periods of sitting down, but they can also signal something more serious.
“Most commonly generalised leg swelling can be caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) due to standing or sitting in the same position for too long, being overweight, being pregnant, taking certain medications or having too much salt in your diet,” Dr Fernando added.
“However, if there is no obvious explanation for your leg swelling or you have any associated symptoms, you should get checked by a doctor; sometimes, oedema can be caused by heart, kidney, or liver issues.
“If the swelling only affects one leg or you have associated redness or pain, you should get seen more urgently to get checked for an infection or blood clot (deep vein thrombosis.).”
If you experience any of these unexplained symptoms it is worth speaking to a GP.
