Maybe you’re losing more hair than normal or you’ve gained some extra weight. Maybe you’re always tired or your partner is complaining about your snoring. These are perfectly harmless reasons for these everyday issues, but there could be something more serious going on. From gassiness to tiredness, these are some of the hidden signs that you aren’t as healthy as you think.
If you’re worried about your health, you should always see a doctor, whether it’s your primary care provider or you look for a specialist.
You’re Bloated
Just because you follow your doctor’s orders and live a healthy life, it doesn’t mean that your health is in the clear. Even if you’re eating your vegetables, choosing organic when you can, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep most nights, there could be an underlining problem. You might think that your after-dinner bloat is normal, but sometimes this symptom can be a clue that you have a more serious health issue.
Simple reasons for bloating include constipation, overeating, or reflux. More serious causes include infection, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, Chrohn’s disease, and certain medications.
When you eat too much or eat food that you aren’t supposed to, you will experience temporary discomfort and may not feel good for twenty or thirty minutes. After that, it should usually dissipate as the digestive symptom takes over.
A one-time thing is easy to ignore as long as the pain isn’t lasting. However, if it happens more than three times, or if the pain lasts more than twelve to twenty-four hours, then you should be examined by a physician.
You Snore
Snoring happens when air is unable to move freely through your mouth and nose as you sleep. The muscles in your throat relax and your tongue can slip back in your throat which can be caused by adenoids, nasal polyps, or a stuffy nose. If you’re overweight or have been drinking alcohol, then you’re more likely to snore.
Snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. This is when your upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly while you sleep, causing you to partially or completely stop breathing for a few seconds. The disruption to your sleep can make you tired and cranky the next day, as well as making you more likely to have difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, and heart conditions. How can you tell if you should worry about your snoring?
If the person you share your bed with notices that you’ve stop breathing for long periods of time, you should consult a specialist. Treatments for basic snoring include losing weight, treatment for allergies, sleeping on your side instead of your back, and avoiding alcohol before bedtime. If your snoring is caused by sleep apnea there are dental mouthpieces that you can wear to keep your airway open, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks that direct pressurized air to keep your airway open while you sleep.
You’re Gassy
Passing gas thirteen to twenty-one times a day is actually completely normal. However, passing gas a lot more or less than this could indicate a problem.
Not passing gas suggests that your bowels aren’t functioning properly, but passing gas too much or too often can suggest that you have a food intolerance or a digestive disorder like gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), Chrohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or celiac disease. You ought to see your doctor if you have persistent and unexplained flatulence. You should also make sure you see a doctor if you have other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, a swollen stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, unintended weight loss, severe heartburn, or blood in your bowel movements.
You’re Always Tired
If you always feel lethargic, no matter how many hours of sleep you get, then it is definitely worth talking to your doctor. Unlike drowsiness, which is the need to sleep, fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. Fatigue can be a normal response to a lack of sleep, lots of physical activity, stress, and boredom. Fatigue can also be a sign of a number of health issues.
Missing sleep, almost any illness, and many medications can cause temporary fatigue, which is usually nothing to worry about. However, experiencing persistent fatigue could be a sign that you are experiencing one of a number of serious conditions, including anemia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, thyroid disorders, chronic infection, and arthritic conditions. Fatigue can also be caused by depression and anxiety disorders.
XOXO,
