10 Symptoms Women Shouldn't Ignore

   Women's Health  

1. Acute Fatigue 

Let’s face it: Women are used to being tired. Who doesn’t have a book-length “to do” list? Take car to mechanic, go to bank, pick up cat food, take children to soccer game, finish project at work, get mechanic, check on Mom and Dad… and on and on. Overload leads to fatigue, but when low energy and exhaustion are chronic and continue for more than two weeks, see a doctor.

Acute fatigue can be a difficult symptom to diagnose, Kinzy says, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. It can indicate hypothyroidism, which can be treated with a hormone, or anemia, which is treatable with iron or vitamin B12 shots. More seriously, it can be a sign of depression, sleep apnea,heart disease or even lung cancer.

2. Rectal Bleeding
Women who have had hemorrhoids while pregnant might dismiss rectal bleeding as a sign of a new hemorrhoid and not take it seriously, says Ruth Stewart, M.D., assistant professor at Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University. Rectal bleeding can indeed indicate a hemorrhoid, but it can also be a sign of colon or rectal cancer, which is curable if caught early, she says.

If you experience rectal bleeding, you should see a doctor right away. And even if it’s just a hemorrhoid, it still needs to be treated.

3. Abdominal Bloating and Pain, Change in Bowel Habits
Like rectal bleeding, abdominal bloating and pain or a change in bowel habits can indicate something serious like colon cancer. These symptoms also can be a sign of ovarian cancer, inflammatory bowel syndrome or diverticulitis. 

Diverticulitis occurs when you have small pouches that bulge outward in your colon (diverticulosis) that get infected. Diverticulitis can be treated with antibiotics but sometimes requires surgery. If you experience abdominal bloating or a persistent change in bowel habits, such as constipation, make an appointment with your doctor.

4. Pain or Discomfort in Chest
Heart disease may be the No.1 killer of American women, but “most women still don’t think about heart disease happening to them,” Kinzy says. So they’ll neglect to have a heart evaluation because they’re positive it’s not their heart. “Then it ends up being about their heart."

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

“Angina isn’t always obvious in women. It’s not the classic ‘elephant sitting on my chest’ feeling,” Stewart says. “Sometimes it’s just discomfort or a ‘not well’ feeling.”

Women might misdiagnose the discomfort as acid reflux or a “burpy” sensation. One of Stewart’s former patients said the feeling was akin to having a balloon inside her chest. She assumed it was acid reflux, took a Maalox and went to work; a few hours later, she came into the hospital having a heart attack. If you’re having trouble exerting yourself, have some discomfort or pain in your chest, or you’re just not feeling right, see a doctor immediately.

5. Heart Palpitations 
Heart palpitations are often related to stress, but if persistent, they can also be a sign of atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat. If you don’t seek treatment for atrial fibrillation, you increase your risk of having a stroke, especially if you have other risk factors for heart disease, which include an abdominal girth of more than 35 inches in women, high cholesterol, high bloodpressure or being a smoker.

6. Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath is yet another symptom of heart disease. But it can also be a sign of other diseases, such as pneumonia, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer or even a blood clot. These are all very serious, so if you’re having continual or increased problems breathing, make an appointment to be evaluated.

7. Pelvic Pain During Intercourse

It’s not normal to have pelvic pain during sex, so pay attention if this symptom occurs. If pelvic pain happens during deep penetration, it could indicate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, an ovarian cyst or cervicitis, which is an infection of the cervix. Pelvic pain upon entry can mean a vaginal infection or a hormone deficiency. If you do experience pelvic pain during intercourse, don’t shrug it off – go to the doctor. An infection that goes untreated can lead to infertility.

8. Change in the Appearance of a Mole

Melanoma (skin cancer) is often linked to a change in moles, so check your moles and freckles regularly for any difference in their appearance.

Follow the ABCD method recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology to help detect possible problems. If the mole is A, asymmetrical; B, has uneven borders; C, has changed in color; or D, changed in diameter, see a dermatologist immediately. Any changes in your skin, such as a growth or a sore that won’t heal, are also potential indicators of melanoma.

9. Breast Lumps

Examine your breasts monthly to detect any new masses or lumps and have a yearly breast exam. It might sound funny, but you should know your breasts intimately. That way, you’ll be able to recognize an unusual mass or lump and have it evaluated right away. 

Potentially cancerous lumps usually feel like small stones or rocks in your breast, Kinzy says. Non-cancerous lumps are typically more tender and change with yourmenstrual cycle. But this is not always the case, so check with your doctor if a new lump appears.

10. Swelling in Legs or Persistent Pain in Joints 

If you notice swelling in one or both legs, particularly after you’ve been traveling in a car or airplane, seek a doctor. Swelling in one leg can mean a blood clot, while swelling in both legs can be a sign of kidney or liver disease. Chronic or constant pain in joints could mean something more serious than arthritis, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, which may require steroid treatment.

Source:  By Alice Daniel, Special to LifeScript  - May 10, 2009

Posted:  True Health Is True Wealth