MEDICAL SYMPTOMS THAT SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED BY WOMEN

10 Medical Symptoms That Shouldn’t Be Ignored By Women

Category: Health And Nutrition

1. Constant Fatigue and Tiredness

Even with an overwhelming number of responsibilities to take care of, exhaustion and tiredness is something a woman just shouldn’t ignore.
If you get tired sometimes due to a busy schedule and feel energetic again after proper rest, then it is not a big deal. However, if fatigue has become a regular part of your life, it can be a classic case of chronic fatigue syndrome.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1 and 4 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and it is four times more common in women than men.
Constant fatigue could also be a sign of a medical problem. There are several medical conditions linked to fatigue, including depression, liver failure, anemia, cancer, kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, sleep apnea and diabetes.
A 2008 study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology indicates that fatigue is more predominant in women than men.
Plus, the differences in fatigue between males and females depend on both the presence of testosterone and the activation of ASIC3, an acid-activated ion channel protein.
If you frequently feel fatigued, a visit to your doctor can help pinpoint the cause.

2. New Moles

Be it men or women, everyone has moles on their skin. On average, most people have at least 10 moles and they can appear anywhere on the body. Women in particular should keep a close eye on their moles, as changes in moles can be associated with melanoma.
A 2015 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology looked at 3,594 twins and found that women with more than seven moles on their right arm were nine times more likely to have more than 50 moles on their whole body. A higher number of moles means a higher risk of melanoma.
Women should be aware of the ABCDE’s of melanoma, which is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and American Academy of Dermatology to help detect a problem.
It provides an easy way to remember what to look for when checking the moles on your body. Take note of moles that have:
A – an asymmetrical shape
B – uneven borders
C – changed in color
D – changed in diameter
E – evolved over time, increasing in size or bleeding.
You also should not disregard a new spot if you get one. These are all reasons to have a mole evaluated by a specialist.

3. Breast Lumps

Any kind of redness, swelling or lump in one or both of your breasts may signal breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass.
While a painless, hard lump with irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, even a tender, soft or rounded lump that is painful can be cancerous.
Along with lumps, swelling or discoloration (purple or red spots) may be signs of inflammatory breast cancer.
Apart from cancer, breast lumps and other problems can be due to hormonal changes in the body, a breast infection or fat necrosis (damaged tissue). Hence, any kind of lump, swelling or pain in the breast needs to be checked by a doctor.
The National Cancer Institute recommends that women older than 40 get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years to detect signs of breast cancer early.

4. Chest Pain or Discomfort

Any kind of chest pain or discomfort should never be taken lightly as it can indicate heart disease, one of the main causes of death in women.
Even though cardiovascular disease accounts for 43 percent of all female deaths in the United States, women still ignore chest pain or attribute it to heartburn or indigestion. This contributes to late diagnosis of heart disease.
Women are often diagnosed with coronary artery disease at a much older age than men. Prior to menopause, the female hormone estrogen helps maintain adequate levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is important for cardiovascular health.
But, after menopause, the ovaries stop making estrogen. Thus, women become more prone to heart disease after menopause, due to the lower estrogen level in the body.
Along with chest pain, if you experience weakness, hot flashes, shortness of breath, cold sweats and pain in the left arm or shoulder, immediately see a doctor.

5. Vaginal Bleeding after Menopause

Vaginal bleeding of any kind after menopause is never normal. It may be harmless, but it can be an early indicator of cancer, including endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma as well as cancer of the cervix or vagina.
Other prominent causes of postmenopausal vaginal bleeding include thinning of the tissue lining the uterus, uterine fibroids and polyps, infection of the uterine lining, pelvic trauma and endometrial hyperplasia.
The cause of your postmenopausal bleeding may be entirely harmless. However, don’t be embarrassed to bring it up to your doctor, as sometimes it can be very serious and need timely assessment.
In fact, any kind of changes in your monthly cycle, such as very heavy bleeding, bleeding that lasts longer than normal and bleeding that occurs after sex or between periods, should be reported to your doctor.

6. Painful Intercourse

According to the World Health organization, painful sex or dyspareunia affects 8–22% of women at some point during their lives, thus making it one of the most common pain problems faced by women.
There can be several reasons behind it, including menopause. With menopause, the vaginal lining loses its normal moisture and becomes dry, causing dyspareunia, or painful intercourse.
A 2008 study published in Pain Research & Management reports that dyspareunia is common in postmenopausal women, and it is not necessarily correlated with menopausal status, estrogen levels or vaginal atrophy.
Even childbirth can cause painful intercourse. A 2015 study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that operative birth is associated with persisting pain during or after sexual intercourse.
Other possible causes include ovarian cysts, infections of the uterus or fallopian tubes, scar tissue from old infections or surgeries, endometriosis or fibroids.
7.Acute Fatigue
Unfortunately, women are used to being tired. Who doesn’t have a book-length “to-do” list?

It’s a difficult symptom to diagnose.

Your fatigue could be a sign of depression, sleep apnea, heart disease or even lung cancer.

Acute fatigue also can indicate hypothyroidism, which can be treated with a hormone, or anemia, treatable with iron or vitamin B12 shots.
8.Abdominal Bloating and Pain, Change in Bowel Habits
  Like rectal bleeding, abdominal bloating and pain or a change in bowel habits can indicate a serious condition like colon cancer. So get a diagnosis before symptoms become severe.

These symptoms also can signal ovarian cancer, inflammatory bowel syndrome or diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis occurs when you have small pouches that bulge outward in your colon (diverticulosis) that get infected. It can be treated with antibiotics but sometimes requires surgery.
9. Pain or Discomfort in Chest
  Heart disease is the No.1 killer of American women – but “most women still don’t think about it happening to them,” Dr. Kinzy says.

The signs of coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack, are typically much more subtle in women.

  Women might misdiagnose the discomfort as acid reflux or a “burpy” sensation too.
10. Heart Palpitations
  Heart palpitations are often related to stress. But if they’re persistent, they may signal atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.

Without treatment, atrial fibrillation raises your risk of a stroke, especially if you have these other heart disease risk factors:

• A waist size of more than 35 inches in women
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Or you smoke

  If you experience heart palpitations or any unusual heartbeat signals, see a doctor immediately. If you smoke, stop, and if you’re overweight, ask your doctor about a weight-loss plan.