Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 9-2-22

Health
Women around the world struggle to balance work, home, children, errands, and so on. Their list of things to do never ends and in this hectic lifestyle, a large num- ber of them end up ignoring changes in your body that might be indicators or symp- toms of potential health problems. New York physi- cian Dr. Gafanovich shares the following 10 symptoms women should not ignore:
1. Vaginal bleeding or discharge
For women who have gone through menopause, vaginal bleeding is abnormal and could be a sign of either something small like a hor- monal imbalance or some- thing big like endometrial cancer or uterine cancer. Any
uncharacteristic discharge or foul-smelling discharge should be taken seriously and a doctor should be consulted.
2. Sudden or unex- plained weight loss
Weight loss is usually good for you, especially if you’ve made changes in your diet or have taken up physi- cal activity to achieve this loss. However, when your weight is coming off without any effort, it might be a cause for concern. Colon cancer is accompanied with unex- plained weight loss. In case of sudden or abnormal weight loss, consult your doctor.
3. Excessive urination
Too much urination can be indicative of several things including diabetes and uter-
ine fibroids. Something could be wrong and it’s best to get it checked out.
4. Breast changes
All breast lumps are not cancerous, but if you observe any changes in your breasts, you should let your health- care provider know. This could include skin dimpling or puckering, nipples that turn inward, nipple discharge or redness or scaling of nip- ple or breast skin.
5. Skin changes
Any out-of-ordinary change in the size, shape or color of a mole or other spot could be a sign of skin cancer and should not be ignored. Also, unexplained bumps on the skin or feet that either do not go away or repeatedly come back should also not be ignored.
6. Flu-like symptoms
Symptoms such as sweat- ing, nausea, light-headed- ness, fatigue, pressure or
pain in the lower chest, ab- domen or back are often dis- missed because they seem very much like the flu. In many cases it might just be the flu, but in some, these symptoms can actually be signs of a heart attack.
7. Bloating or Gas
Bloating and gas are com- mon signs of menstruation or a change in diet. While this is a natural occurrence, if symptoms persist, you might be at risk of ovarian cancer. It is important to talk to your ob-gyn about these symp- toms.
8. Pubic Area discom- fort and odor
This can be a very per- sonal matter for most of us and we often do not talk about it enough with our healthcare providers. But don’t be embarrassed! It is important to understand that vaginal and even penile odor for men does happen. Vagi- nal odor is the result of an unbalanced vaginal pH. Many women experience this and it can be managed through vaginal gels. How- ever, if the odor persists or is accompanied with fever or any other symptoms, women should not ignore it and con- sult their doctor.
9. Toothache
A Constant toothache or prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, swollen gums, pain when chewing or applying pressure to your teeth can be signs of infection and should not be ignored. Toothaches and pains require immediate attention and should not be allowed to spread to the jaw or beyond.
10. Numbness in Wrists
Numbness or tingling in your thumb, index and mid- dle fingers can often be symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. If left untreated, this can lead to permanent nerve or muscle damage.
It’s important for all women to be empowered to make healthy choices. What are the things that we should focus on to ensure that we have the proper tools to get on track? What better gift to yourself than improving your quality of life with healthy routines?
This month, take the op- portunity to take care of yourself and find the time to sit down with your doctor or health care provider to dis- cuss ways to take control of your health. Some of the changes in routine that can help create healthy long-term effects include eating right, exercising, quitting smoking and getting the care neces- sary to stay healthy. Fortu- nately, there are many websites, apps and people to help you track and manage your health.
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