If you skip a couple of sleep hours and don’t have a nourishing breakfast, you might feel very weak, unable to focus or to remember things, and might experience blurred vision and intense headaches. However, not all the symptoms you experience are signs of ailment, and sometimes even those manifestations that seem threatening and serious might be only a temporary consequence of something you ate or of changes in your lifestyle or sleep schedule. On the other hand, there are also symptoms that are common but that could signal a serious health problems. When in doubt, it’s always recommended that you see your physician or a specialist.
Anxiety or too much coffee and tea can all cause shaky hands. It’s generally harmless. However, an overactive thyroid can cause shaky hands along with weight loss, while low blood sugar can also make shakiness worse for a while.
Sometimes, the feeling of being light headed or faint can be caused by low blood pressure, which gets worse on a hot day or if you’re dehydrated. It can also be a side effect of medications or hormones.
Another causes of faintness is a drop in blood sugar levels which can be helped by drinking three-quarters of a cup of orange juice or eating a few jellybeans. a tip, if you’re feeling dizzy is to raise your arms over your head, yawn or if you’re seated lean forward to increase blood flow to your brain.
Tension headaches are very common, are often caused by stress and can usually be treated by over-the-counter medications.
Migraines are more painful and may begin with flashing lights, followed by a throbbing headache. Often bed rest and lying down in a dark, silent, cool room will help. Special migraine medications are also helpful if taken at the first sign of a migraine. Outside of hormone triggers, other culprits include MSG, chocolate, wine, citrus, fruits, sex or other physical activities.
Related: Pounding, Throbbing, Sharp or Dull? Your Headache Is Telling You Something!
Running for miles in shoes that fit poorly can cause toes to bump up against the top of your shoe, making the toenail turn a frightening shade of black. It may look morbid, but “runner’s toe” is simply the result of the skin underneath the nail bruising and bleeding. This causes the blood to pool under the nail with every stride. It’s usually harmless but can be very painful. Avoid it by getting shoes properly fitted. See a doctor if pain, swelling and redness appear, which may be signs of an infection.
Nail ridges, tiny raised lines that extend from the cuticle to the tip of the nail, are similar to wrinkles on the face, say dermatologists. They’re brought about by age and are not a sign of any medical condition. See a doctor if the ridges are horizontal or if your nails are otherwise discoloured or distorted, as it may be a symptom of something more serious.
The appearance of dots before your eyes that float about in your field of vision often occurs in nearsighted people and is not usually a cause for concern unless it occurs suddenly.
These ‘floaters’ are typically caused by age-related changes in the jelly-like substance (vitreous) of the eye, say ophthalmologists. Floaters may appear as dots, squiggly lines, cobwebs or circles and become more noticeable when looking at a plain background such as a blank wall. See a doctor if you notice a new onset of floaters, a shower of floaters, flashing lights or a shadow or curtain comes across your eye, say experts.
Passing wind can be embarrassing, but it’s a very normal biological function. Sometimes things like gulping air through a straw of bubbles from fizzy drinks will increase flatulence. Anxiety can also cause flatulence. In other cases, lentils, onions, beans, cabbage and broccoli may be triggers. Less well-known is that sorbitol found in sugar-free gum and drinks is a trigger as are ill-fitting dentures.
Sometimes, lactose intolerance can cause diarrhoea and flatulence.
Palpitations could be caused by stress, smoking, drinking coffee or some medications, and could also be caused by increased blood volume in pregnancy.
As palpitations could be a sign of anxiety, untreated anxiety could increase heart disease risk. And symptoms include depression, sleeplessness, agitation or feelings of helplessness. Palpitations that recur, last for more than a few minutes, and are accompanied by dizziness may be serious and you should consult your doctor.
Related: Heart Attack Signs You Must Know
Are you that person? Always dripping in sweat, even if you haven’t gotten off the couch in your air-conditioned basement all day? Pit stains when you have a big presentation at work or you’re on a first date? Stress may be the culprit. When you’re nervous or anxious, your body sometimes reacts by producing more sweat, and, in the long term, this can become a pervasive problem.
It could be a random incident but if you gums continuously bleed after brushing, you may need to see a dentist to have it sorted out. It could be serious as you may have gum disease, a bacterial infection that affects millions. Infected gums are a portal for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and inflame and possibly damage your heart and other organs, say experts.
Text: Bauer/ Good Health/ Additional Reporting: Shenielle Aloysis