Sophie Okolo, MPH

Looking after the body is about much more than just eating well, getting plenty of exercise and getting lots of sleep. Of course, all those things are hugely important, but alone they are not necessarily sufficient. You also need to make sure that you are keeping a close eye on your body and on the changes it goes through, as only this way can you ensure that you are treating it as it should be treated.

In particular, you should try to keep an eye out for any bodily signs that seem untoward or which indicate sudden or extreme changes. As long as you do so, it’s much more likely that you will keep on top of any illnesses or other problems that may occur, which is clearly really important for your general health. Let’s look at some of the signs you should definitely get checked out, should they occur.

Facial Drooping

There are some signs that the body can show which indicate a real emergency, and facial drooping is one of them. Most famously, drooping of the face can be a sign of a stroke, so even if you don’t feel strange or there are no other symptoms, this is something that you should not ignore. A stroke can be life-threatening, and at the very least is something that always needs immediate medical care, so make sure that you are not letting this one slide. If you notice that your face is drooping – or the face of someone else close to you – take them to the emergency department straight away.

Regular Or Severe Vomiting

Of course, we all vomit from time to time, and most of the time it is nothing particularly to worry about. Usually it is an acute result of something else, such as food poisoning. But if you are vomiting a lot, regularly, or you have vomit that is quite severe, then that is something that might require some medical attention. At the very least, it is not to be ignored. It could be that you have an illness causing it or a bug of some sort. A good rule of thumb is that if your vomiting has passed the four-day mark, it is probably time to check in with your doctor, just in case. As always, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Lumps & Bumps

You can get lumps and bumps for all sorts of reasons, including very normal and benign reasons and some more worrying and disturbing ones. Of course, a lot of people instantly think of cancer when they find a lump, but this is not necessarily what it is, so you shouldn’t assume that. It could be something like a thyroid nodule, and actually treating a thyroid nodule is not too challenging usually. Still, if you do find any new lumps or bumps, you should keep an eye on them and get them checked out if you are worried about them, or especially if they grow quickly or are tender or painful to the touch.

Deep Wounds

It should probably go without saying that you should not ignore a deep wound. Chances are, you won’t feel able to ignore it, because it will just obviously be something that demands your attention. However, you should also take care to get the proper treatment and attention if you have a deep wound of any type. If you are concerned about a wound, even after attending to it yourself, then always make sure you get it checked out, just in case it worsens or it turns out to be something else that you would rather not have.

Persistent Rash

Rashes are almost always not serious, but if you have a persistent rash then it might be an indication of something that needs some care and attention. A rash is any kind of blotting on the skin, and it can be a result of a wider number of things, from a simple overexposure to the sun, to a bug or some other illness you may have. Just to be safe, it’s usually best to get a rash checked out if it persists longer than a couple of weeks or so. That way you can get any necessary treatment you might need.

Cough

We all cough – it’s one of the body’s normal processes. But depending on the nature of the cough, the severity, and how long you have had it, it might indicate something more sinister. If your cough has persisted for a few weeks or it is painful and it seems to be worsening, then you should probably get it checked out by a doctor. At the very least, it could be a lung issue or cancer, but in any case it’s just something you want to pay attention to, just in case it is something that needs care.

Unexplained Weight Loss

A lot of people are often not that keen to self-report on weight loss, because they are happy that it has happened. However, if you have sudden unexplained weight loss, that can actually be a sign of something quite wrong in the body, and it is a sign that you should be careful not to ignore it if you can help it. It can even be a sign of serious conditions such as ovarian cancer. So if you have noticed yourself losing weight without trying to, that is something that you might want to go to the doctor about.

Changes In Moles

Moles are a normal part of the skin, and everyone has a few at least. But they do need to be watched, because they can be a sign of genuine melanoma – which is when skin cancer becomes more deadly. You need to keep a close eye on your moles, therefore, and make sure that you are getting them checked out by a dermatologist if they change in color, shape or size too much or too rapidly. That way, you are going to be able to keep on top of it, in case it is dangerous.