13 Subtle Symptoms of Serious Health Conditions That You Shouldn’t Ignore

Many health issues, in fact, hide in plain sight via seemingly innocuous symptoms that we tend to ignore or perceive as harmless aging signs. These are the following 13 symptoms of serious health conditions that can worsen your overall health significantly. Being aware of these symptoms will help you stay safe and preserve overall health.

1. Chronic headaches

Nearly half of all individuals suffer from headaches at some point in their lives. Since headaches are a common health issue, people often perceive them like something insignificant caused by stress and dehydration. However, persistent headaches, especially when accompanied by symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and vision problems, might be a symptom or precursor to a stroke.

2. Panic attacks

Over 60 percent of Americans with mental health issues don’t get adequate care. This includes panic disorder and anxiety, both of which can lead to panic attacks. Lack of treatment can take a toll on your mental health. However, panic attacks can be a warning signal of a coming heart attack.

While chest discomfort and tightening are the most frequent and well-known symptoms of coronary artery disease, there may be less obvious symptoms as well. Other unobvious signs of a heart attack include panic, anxiety, and stress.

3. Metallic taste in your mouth

Over 90 percent of the adult population with kidney disease are unaware of their health problem. This happens because the symptoms of kidney disease are often subtle and easy to miss. Ammonia breath or metallic taste in your mouth is one of those subtle symptoms that can indicate that you have kidney problems. If you have a persistent metallic taste in your mouth, be sure to report it to your doctor during your annual physical examination.

4. Easy bruising

Some people bruise more easily than others, but if you see bruises forming more frequently or easier than usual, this might be a symptom of leukemia. Leukemia patients may get bruised from mild bumps and frequently experience bleeding from their mouths or nostrils. Because there are typically no evident signs in the early stages of the condition, it is critical to visit a doctor as soon as you notice that you get bruises or bleed more easily.

5. Frequent urination

Frequent urination or feeling the urge to urinate can be extremely inconvenient, but people with this problem rarely discuss it with their doctor or seek medical help. They should, though, because frequent urination might be a symptom of diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Frequent urination may also signal health problems like kidney disease, ureter problems, or urinary bladder problems.

6. Bad breath

Bad breath is unpleasant, especially for people surrounding you. Sometimes bad breath can be related to eating too much garlic at dinner or relatively harmless dental conditions that remind you to be more mindful about your dental hygiene.

But in some cases, chronic bad breath may indicate more serious health problems. Diabetes, liver disease, and renal disease can all lead to the development of foul-smelling breath that doesn't go away even after brushing and flossing. If you have chronic bad breath, make an appointment with your dentist to rule out the risk of any major disease.

7. Unexplained weight loss

Unexplained weight loss is defined as a noticeable decline in your body weight that happens even when the person isn’t trying to lose weight with the help of diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications. If you experience a weight reduction of 10 pounds or more, or 5% of body weight, during a 6 to 12-month period, this can indicate a wide variety of serious health issues.

Serious health conditions that can contribute to severe weight loss can be a symptom of:

- Overactive or underactive thyroid gland

- Cancer

- Heart failure

- Parkinson’s disease

- AIDS

- Diabetes

- Swelling of the pancreas

- Alcohol or drug abuse

- Dysphagia (swallowing problems)

- Dementia

If you experience unexplained weight loss, visit your doctor as soon as possible to get appropriate treatment.

8. Persistent cough

COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung disease that can be difficult to identify in its early stages. Many people develop a cough before being diagnosed, which is typically accompanied by chest tightness and difficulty breathing. If you have unexplained coughing that doesn’t go away, schedule an appointment with your doctor to check the symptoms and get treatment.

9. Swollen legs and arms

Swelling in your feet, ankles, hands, or cheeks may potentially indicate kidney disease. When the function of your kidneys is disrupted, they cannot properly remove excess fluid from your body and filter toxins. As a result, extra fluid accumulates in your bodily tissue, causing them to swell. Other common causes of excess swelling include allergic reactions, severe inflammation, and eating too much salt.

10. Double vision

If you experience double vision or that one or both of your eyelids are drooping, this might be a symptom of a brain aneurysm. These symptoms should be checked by your doctor as soon as possible, especially if they are unexpected and appear suddenly. If you experience double vision that comes and goes, it can be caused by diabetes, eye muscle problems, astigmatism, or a developing lense problem called a cataract.

11. Skin redness

If you experience pain or soreness surrounding a red area, usually on your leg or arm, it is recommended to see a doctor because this symptom might indicate a condition called necrotizing fasciitis. This is a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that destroys the skin, fat beneath the skin, and the fascia covering your muscles.

It can develop from a small cut, surgical site, bruise, boil, injection site, and even from a small injury that occurs on a daily basis. In the early stages, some illnesses exhibit the same signs and symptoms as necrotizing fasciitis. Even for skilled professionals, this is a difficult diagnosis to make.

12. Neck pain

Aches and pains in your neck can be caused by relatively harmless things like muscle overuse or sleeping on an unsupportive mattress. But when the discomfort is severe and accompanied by a limited range of motion, it might be a symptom of a serious infection called meningitis. This is an infection of the membranes that protect your brain and spinal cord. It can cause neck discomfort, making it difficult or impossible to lower your chin to your chest.

If it is meningitis, failing to treat it might result in lasting brain damage or even death. If you have neck pain and a limited range of motion accompanied by fever, don't ignore the pain and visit the doctor as soon as possible.

13. Poor coordination

Poor coordination is commonly overlooked by both doctors and patients because people's physical coordination varies widely. If you have noticed any changes in your ability to control your body, this might be a symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS is a degenerative nervous system disease that damages motor neuron cells, resulting in progressive impairment and death.

Other early symptoms of ALS include tripping or bumping into things, clumsiness or hand weakness, difficulty holding small objects, and muscle cramps.