Unexpected changes in the body can be alarming. It’s health scares like lower back pain that immobilizes you – yup, happened to me only a few weeks ago – that signal something is off. Listen to your body, it’s trying to get your attention.
Why listen to your body?
When you get a headache, fever, or another symptom, it’s the body defending itself against something. But if you don’t pay attention to that symptom then things could get a whole lot worse health-wise.
If you’re not making health a priority then it’s time to do so. For yourself, firstly, and then for family and friends. Only then can you protect against chronic diseases and feel as good as possible.
And only once you are 100% can you fully care for those around you who need support. So if you’re not doing it for yourself then do it for them!
And by taking care of yourself, I mean:
- Healthy eating
- Regular exercise
- Meditation or another relaxing activity
- Social time
- Unplug the tech gadgets
Finding the right combination for you can really improve your life.
But things happen, such as life, and it’s easy to get into a routine of fast food and little to no exercise to save time and get everything done in the day that you have on your shoulders. That comes at a cost to your health though.
And that’s when you might be hit with health scares. Other times though you can be doing everything on that list above and BOOM a hereditary condition decides to rear its head or something else happens inside the complex human body.
All when you least expect it.
And if that happens, it’s essential to spot symptoms that could cause you problems and seek advice as soon as possible. With that in mind, here are some of the symptoms you shouldn’t ignore and what to do about them when it comes to your health.
Lower back pain
It’s quite possible that at some point in your life you will struggle with back pain. For me, that day came when I woke up and got out of bed, only to find myself hunched forward without the ability to straighten the back.
While many people say “it just part of getting older,” I urge you not to say that and sluff off the symptoms.
Instead, listen to your body. If the back pain stemmed from an playing sports or exercising, you likely know the source. And if you don’t get to medical attention for it then it’ll likely keep coming back again and again.
Instead, seek out physical therapy. For me, I’m seeing a massage therapist. For you, find what you prefer, whether it’s:
- Massage therapy
- Chiropractic sessions
- Specific physical therapy plan
- Another option
After seeing your doctor, they might recommend a combination of rest, painkillers, and light stretches. That’s exactly what I was told to do for my lower back pain. Listen to your body and your doctor.
For example, if you start to do a stretch that the doc showed you but your back aches, then ease off. Listen to your body or you might just stretch too far and create more health scares later. Adjust for what’s comfortable for you and work up to doing more slowly over time.
If anything feels wrong then see the doctor again. They are there to help you!
Even using things like CBD Pain Relief Cream can help ease the pain and give you some comfort. But, again, see a medical professional as severe lower back pain could signal kidney stones or another serious condition that’s probably not evident to you.
If it’s kidney stones, for example, they are build ups of salt and minerals in your urine. These mineral materials need to pass, and it can be extremely painful. Sometimes medical intervention is needed but the best advice is to seek some professional advice before doing anything else.
Health scares: Abdominal pain
When you experience pain in your abdominal area, it can be rather uncomfortable. Health scares like that can be worrying, whether it’s symptomatic of something serious or not.
Pain in the stomach can be due to many factors, such as
- Excessive gas
- Indigestion, or
- Even stomach ulcers
The time to start panicking and seeking help is if this pain becomes unbearable. So listen to your body please!
Acute pain in the abdominal area can be a sign of an underlying hernia or even appendicitis. Which can be classed as a medical emergency.
Sometimes it can be difficult to decide whether or not it is serious, so err on the cautious side and see a medical professional. Especially if what you’re feeling is far about your pain threshold.
If it’s something minor then you’ll get it dealt with properly. If it’s the start of something more serious, the attention in the starting stages can prevent much bigger health scares down the road.
Unusual lumps? Listen to your body
For most people, the following statement is true:
You ought to know your body better than you do right now.
And I get it, I totally do. You’re busy with, well, life. A job (or two, dang economy!), family, chores, bills, and hopefully some getaways.
But understanding your body can go far in catching health scares when they first appear. That’s because any bodily changes could signal that something unexpected is going on inside you.
Two key examples are:
- Lumps appearing where they should be
- Changes to moles on your skin
And no I’m not getting high marks on this front! I have moles across my body and didn’t notice that one on my arm was a dark color and quite wide. It wasn’t until a friend told me it looked strange that I got it check out.
That was several years ago and I am forever grateful to my friend for telling me to see the doctor about it. This was melanoma and it was removed. Now I regularly check my body for moles to prevent health scares regarding them and see a dermatologist annually.
As for lumps, here’s how to conduct a breast self-exam. As there is debate about the effectiveness of self-examination though, it’s also a good idea to combine it with a mammography or physical exam by your doctor.
By doing so you can catch cancer or another issue early and get appropriate treatment. And if nothing is unusual, then there’s peace of mind in that.
More health scares: Headaches
A headache can be quite common for some people. You might get one when you’re tired or have eye strain. And if you’re generally unwell.
But if the headaches cause blurry vision or sickness, then listen to your body rather than ignoring it. Headaches can be signs of problems in your brain or to do with your sight.
However, if migraines specifically happen on the regular for you, then rest assured that a severe headache does not always indicate something serious. It’s always better to be safe than sorry though so discuss it with a doctor if you haven’t already done so.
For short-term relief from a migraine, a few suggestions are:
- Drink plenty of water
- Get in a dark room if light seems to be sensitive to your eyes
- Rest up and try and let it pass
If the headaches become more consistent, then keep track of them. That way you can discuss it well with a doctor.
Blood when you go to the toilet
What you see when you go to the toilet isn’t always a topic high on everyone’s list. But the truth of the matter is that spotting things that aren’t normal could be signs of disease and cancer.
It’s sad but very true. And blood in the urine or feces can indicate these signs.
However, it’s also worth remembering that they could be signs of other factors. While going to the doctor for this reason can feel a little embarrassing, it’s always worth remembering that these professionals have seen it all before.
And they want to help you not shame you. It’s always best to get attention for health scares; trust your intuition that something is off when your see blood in your pee.
By getting a checkup, you’ll know for sure that it isn’t something more sinister. And that’s a good reason to get over any embarrassment beforehand.
Listen to your body about irregular menstrual periods
Women can struggle with period cramping, bloating, and more on a monthly basis. Over the years, identifying what is normal and what isn’t for you has likely gotten easier.
If for any reason your periods become irregular or abnormal, then seek Dr. advice. It could be for a number of reasons, from a surprise pregnancy to a hormonal imbalance.
Among the reasons for irregular periods are:
- Your IUD
- Infections
- Cysts in ovaries
- Stress
- Breastfeeding
Thankfully, irregular menstrual bleeding, as with many health scares, has certain symptoms to watch for. Even a change in mood or severity of cramps can indicate that something isn’t quite right.
Always get medical advice to put your mind at rest if you feel things have changed. Or if you notice different symptoms you wouldn’t normally experience.
A last note about health scares
It is completely understandable that there is a fine line between panicking over the slightest thing and taking something that develops and is consistent seriously. But you can never be too careful when it comes to your health.
Plus, in most situations catching these things early can be the difference between cure and dealing with it moving forward. Hopefully the points above remind you to listen to your body and help you understand what to watch for.
If you need motivation to get to the doctor or do a self-exam, all I have to say is that your health is among the most important things in life. It determines your quality of life.
Thus, it’s vital you take care of yourself as best you can, paying attention to what you eat and staying physically active, if possible. Both components help form a healthy lifestyle and can massively benefit you in the long run.
What are some other health scares? Are you paying attention to what your body is saying?
Thank you so much for this, I needed it 💕
So glad it came at the right time xx
And we have to pay attention to that signal. Otherwise, it’s going to hurt no-one except us.
That’s so true!!
Yes!
Thanks for the valuable info dear
So glad it’s valuable to you!
Thank u for dis.. highly appreciate❤️
Great to know xx
Can relate to getting headaches checked out – I was 18 when I went to the Drs about one. He probably thought I was a hypercondriac but sent me for an MRI anyway. Luckily they found a tumour. That was 6 years ago and I’ve just had successful brain surgery 😊 listening to your body is vital!
That fast response saved your life, likely! Thanks for sharing your story here xx
Exactly! Our bodies are smart and we should treat them as such!
Great post! Always listen to your body!
Yesssss!!
Very informative post. I try to remind carers especially. It is so easy to focus on other family members and completely forget to listen to your own body.
That’s great advice, Kaka.
Hi Christy,
Thank you for your article and the reminder to listen to your body. I completely agree with making sure you don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Sometimes it is easy to not pay attention or to ignore when we are busy with other things.
One other thing that should not be ignored are vision problems, such as seeing halos around lights, which can be a symptom of glaucoma. If ignored and left untreated, glaucoma could lead to blindness.
Healthiest regards,
Garet Manuel
Thanks for adding the details about seeing halos around lights, Garet!
A most informative post, Christy.
Thank you for being here, Robbie
So true. We must listen to body and especially to the gut.
Yes! The body sends signals for good reason.
I agree Christy. Great post.
Thanks Brigitte xx
This would be good, except doctors here in the U.S. tend not to listen to their patients, and disregard/dismiss serious issues.
Boo :( Bedside manner ought to be something regularly focused on during and after med school.
Yes, your posts make medical care in Canada sound really good!
Come up and join us! ;)
Oh, believe me, I’m trying like heck to do so. Been trying to get a portable job so I can have the experience to carry over into Canada. Somehow, I don’t think my substitute teaching experience is gonna be enough for Canada to open its borders and say “Welcome home!”. I keep thinking about playing the “Trump refugee” angle…
Love what you have to say here. Listening to your body is key to living your healthiest life. Practicing techniques like Intuitive Eating are also a great way to listen to your body when it comes to eating!
Intuitive eating is a great example! Your thoughtful comment is awesome.
Sensible advice that shouldn’t be ignored.
You’re a sweetheart with your comments, Norah.
I tell it as I see it. :)
Awwww! Happy Friday, Norah :)
Yes, listening to the signs of our body is the best we can do for a healthy life. Thank you for remembering, and giving great information about. Michael
Wishing you a nice Friday ahead, Michael :)
You too, Christy!🙂
Thank you :)
🙂🙂
Thanks for such a thoughtful post!!
It’s nice to have it well received, RUPS!
Thank you for this!!
And thanks for the nice comment!
nice share
Appreciative.
Listening to the body is vital each day. :-) Great post.
Listen and learn :) THanks Mimi.