Most likely cause: Hormonal imbalance. In the majority of cases, bleeding in between periods, or dysfunctional uterine bleeding, is due to a hormonal imbalance, says Dr Shiv Gill. The bleeding usually goes away on its own, otherwise your doctor may prescribe the Pill to correct this.

Don’t ignore it because: The bleeding could be a sign of tumours, cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, or hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, says Dr Gill. In some cases, it could be an ectopic pregnancy or even a spontaneous abortion.

Most likely cause: Lactose intolerance, gluten or other food allergies, or reflux. The food allergies listed above are one of the many possible causes for chronic stomach pain. It could also be Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is typically caused by stress or a lack of fibre.

Don’t ignore it because: Even if there’s no change in your bowel habits, see your doctor so you can rule out gastritis. If left untreated, gastritis can cause stomach ulcers; and when these ulcers bleed, they can be life threatening.

Most likely cause: Degenerative changes in the spine. These include intervertebral disc problems, nerve compression, a narrowing of the spinal canal, and osteoporotic fractures. These are all benign cases, but can result in significant functional impairment and a poorer quality of life. Poor posture, obesity, repeated stress on the spine and a sedentary lifestyle can further aggravate back pain.

Don’t ignore it because: In rare cases, the pain could be due to infection, inflammation or tumour of the spine. And, adds Dr Choo, it could be a warning sign for potentially life threatening conditions including kidney infection, pancreatic inflammation, blood vessel aneurysm and cancer.

Most likely cause: Sebaceous cysts. Such cysts are usually benign, says Dr Gill. It could also be lipomas – benign tumours composed of adipose tissue.

Don’t ignore it because: In extremely rare cases, it could be liposarcoma, a malignant tumour which begins in deep soft tissue, such as the thigh, and can grow very large.

Most likely cause: Eczema or skin allergies. These generally fade away after a while but it is still a good idea to have a doctor diagnose the cause of such allergies, especially if it keeps returning.

Don’t ignore it because: Dr Gill says that if the rash is flat and purplish, and occurs on the knuckles or the joints of the fingers, it could be dermatomyositis, a sign of gastrointestinal cancer, so do get such a rash checked right away.

Most likely cause: Asthma or anxiety. It could be asthma if you have trouble breathing out, or anxiety, if you have trouble breathing in.

Don’t ignore it because: It could be an infection or a foreign body in your chest, or, it could be a benign or malignant tumour, says Dr Gill, so it’s best to get an X-ray to rule these out. If you have breathing difficulties when lying down, it could be a sign of heart failure, in which case you must get immediate medical attention.

Most likely cause: Anxiety, piles, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or anal fissures. The pain, explains Dr Gill, could be from haemorrhoids/piles, IBS, a muscle spasm caused by anxiety, or anal fissures caused by hard stools.

Don’t ignore it because: If the pain is accompanied by a change in bowel habits – either frequency or consistency – and you notice blood in your stools, it might be a sign of a tumour, says Dr Gill.

Most likely cause: Tension headaches. Tension headaches are common, says Dr Gill. If you have a family history of migraines, it’s likely a genetic problem. Certain foods like alcohol, coffee and chocolate, which contain tyramine that dilates the blood vessels, can also induce headaches.

Don’t ignore it because: Your doctor should exclude an aneurysm, says Dr Gill. If your headache is accompanied by nausea when you wake up, and gets better as the day progresses, it could be a sign of a brain tumour. A CT scan should be able to determine if the headache is indeed due to a tumour.

Most likely cause: Viral infection. If you’ve recently suffered a viral infection, the fatigue could be due to this. And this kind of fatigue can take up to six months to pass, Dr Gill explains.

Don’t ignore it because: The fatigue could be due to anaemia. It could also be a sign of hypothyroidism, or renal problems that can lead to renal failure.

Most likely cause: Sexually transmitted infection, candida or bacterial vaginosis. If your discharge is smelly, blood-stained or coloured, or is accompanied by an itch, you could be suffering from a sexually transmitted infection, candida or bacterial vaginosis. It could also be an infection from a retained tampon, says Dr Gill.

Don’t ignore it because: In postmenopausal women, the unusual discharge could be a symptom of endometrial cancer.

Most likely cause: Poor blood circulation or injury to a nerve. You experienced weakness or numbness on one side of your body – it lasted less than an hour, but you thought nothing of it. You could have been standing still for too long or you’d remained in the same posture for quite a while.

Don’t ignore it because: This might have been a transient ischaemic attack, says Dr Gill, a minor stroke that warns of an impending stroke within days, weeks or months. See your doctor quickly – a CT scan will reveal if a minor stroke did indeed occur.

Text: Sasha Gonzales/Her World

This article was originally published in Simply Her.

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