10 Ways Your Body May Be Telling You Something’s Wrong
Your body is constantly sending you signals. If you pay attention to it, it will tell you when something isn’t quite right. Some of these signals are very obvious, like a stuffy nose when you have a cold, or a fever when you have the flu or an infection, but other signs of poor health are not so obvious.
Some, however, are much more subtle. Sometimes, signs of a chronic health issue are less apparent. While these issues are usually not as dangerous as acute health problems, if they’re not addressed they could lead to something more serious. For this reason, paying attention to them is important.
There is an almost infinite number of subtle ways your body could be trying to tell you something. While this list is by no means exhaustive or meant to diagnose, the following are ten signs of poor health, and what to do about them.
10 Subtle Signs of Poor Health
Occasionally you may notice small changes in your body. Perhaps it’s in your skin, or you’re craving a certain food. In many cases, it probably means nothing. Sometimes, however, it could mean you’re lacking a certain nutrient, or it could be an early sign of a more serious health problem.
1. A Crawling or Achy Feeling in Your Legs
woman’s calf muscle cramped, massage of female leg in home interior, painful area highlighted in red
Credit: Shutterstock
If you experience a crawling sensation in your legs, or you have an uncontrollable urge to move, you may be experiencing restless leg syndrome (RLS) and is a big sign of poor health. It often occurs in the evening or night time when you’re sitting or lying down.
RLS is also known as Willis-Ekborn disease. The main symptom is the urge to move the legs, and most people experience some relief when they stretch, jiggle their legs, pace, or walk. Some of the sensations you might experience with RLS are:Crawling
Creeping
Pulling
Throbbing
Aching
Itching
Electric
Since it typically occurs at nighttime, RLS can interfere with your sleep. This, in turn, can affect your quality of life. Many people with RLS never talk to their doctor because they’re afraid they won’t be taken seriously. There are some ways, however, that a doctor can help people with RLS.
There are some medications that a doctor can prescribe to you, such as those that increase dopamine to the brain, or drugs that affect calcium channels. Certain opioids, muscle relaxants, and sleep medications may also help.
There are also some home remedies that can help treat RLS. A warm bath or a massage can help relieve symptoms, as can using hot or cold packs to lessen limb sensations. Some also find relief using supplemental magnesium. Fatigue tends to make RLS worse, so establishing a good sleep routine to make sure you’re getting adequate rest can also help.
Getting moderate, regular exercise can also help relieve symptoms, but overdoing it or working out late in the evening can make them worse. Sometimes cutting back on caffeine consumption can also help.
There is also a special foot wrap designed for people with RLS that can improve the condition. Talk to your doctor about getting one for yourself [1].
2. Your Skin is Getting Thicker
Macro skin with enlarged pores. Allergic reaction, peeling, care for problem skin.
Credit: Shutterstock
Skin problems can often be ignored. Your skin, however, is the largest organ in your body and can tell you a lot about your health. Skin that becomes thick and itchy could be a sign that there is something going on internally. The following medical conditions could cause your skin to thicken:
Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP): this is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition [2,3].
Psoriasis: a chronic skin condition in which your body makes new skin cells faster than old skin cells are cast off [2,4].
Hypothyroidism: A common disorder that occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone [2,5].
If you notice raised patches of skin that are thick, red, or itchy, you should talk to your doctor. They can perform blood tests to get to the root of the problem. Once they know the cause, they can determine an appropriate treatment plan.
3. Your Handwriting, Your Sense of Smell, or Your Dreams Change
Although it may sound bizarre, these could all be early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms of the disease usually occur gradually and get worse over time. They may include:
Tremor (trembling) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
Stiffness of the limbs and trunk
Slowness of movement
Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
Depression or other emotional changes
Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
Urinary problems or constipation
Skin problems
Sleep disruptions
Early signs of Parkinson’s are often very subtle. For example, you might have very slight tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. You might notice your handwriting is slow or looks cramped and small. You may even find you’re often speaking too softly.
Many people with the disease report that before they started experiencing tremors or stiffness, they had sleep problems, constipation, they couldn’t smell very well, and they had restless legs.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are some treatment options to relieve symptoms. Of course, the earlier you can get a diagnosis, the more effective treatment will be.
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Some, however, are much more subtle. Sometimes, signs of a chronic health issue are less apparent. While these issues are usually not as dangerous as acute health problems, if they’re not addressed they could lead to something more serious. For this reason, paying attention to them is important.
There is an almost infinite number of subtle ways your body could be trying to tell you something. While this list is by no means exhaustive or meant to diagnose, the following are ten signs of poor health, and what to do about them.
10 Subtle Signs of Poor Health
Occasionally you may notice small changes in your body. Perhaps it’s in your skin, or you’re craving a certain food. In many cases, it probably means nothing. Sometimes, however, it could mean you’re lacking a certain nutrient, or it could be an early sign of a more serious health problem.
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1. A Crawling or Achy Feeling in Your Legs
woman’s calf muscle cramped, massage of female leg in home interior, painful area highlighted in red
Credit: Shutterstock
If you experience a crawling sensation in your legs, or you have an uncontrollable urge to move, you may be experiencing restless leg syndrome (RLS) and is a big sign of poor health. It often occurs in the evening or night time when you’re sitting or lying down.
RLS is also known as Willis-Ekborn disease. The main symptom is the urge to move the legs, and most people experience some relief when they stretch, jiggle their legs, pace, or walk. Some of the sensations you might experience with RLS are:
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Crawling
Creeping
Pulling
Throbbing
Aching
Itching
Electric
Since it typically occurs at nighttime, RLS can interfere with your sleep. This, in turn, can affect your quality of life. Many people with RLS never talk to their doctor because they’re afraid they won’t be taken seriously. There are some ways, however, that a doctor can help people with RLS.
There are some medications that a doctor can prescribe to you, such as those that increase dopamine to the brain, or drugs that affect calcium channels. Certain opioids, muscle relaxants, and sleep medications may also help.
There are also some home remedies that can help treat RLS. A warm bath or a massage can help relieve symptoms, as can using hot or cold packs to lessen limb sensations. Some also find relief using supplemental magnesium. Fatigue tends to make RLS worse, so establishing a good sleep routine to make sure you’re getting adequate rest can also help.
Getting moderate, regular exercise can also help relieve symptoms, but overdoing it or working out late in the evening can make them worse. Sometimes cutting back on caffeine consumption can also help.
There is also a special foot wrap designed for people with RLS that can improve the condition. Talk to your doctor about getting one for yourself [1].
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2. Your Skin is Getting Thicker
Macro skin with enlarged pores. Allergic reaction, peeling, care for problem skin.
Credit: Shutterstock
Skin problems can often be ignored. Your skin, however, is the largest organ in your body and can tell you a lot about your health. Skin that becomes thick and itchy could be a sign that there is something going on internally. The following medical conditions could cause your skin to thicken:
Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP): this is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition [2,3].
Psoriasis: a chronic skin condition in which your body makes new skin cells faster than old skin cells are cast off [2,4].
Hypothyroidism: A common disorder that occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone [2,5].
If you notice raised patches of skin that are thick, red, or itchy, you should talk to your doctor. They can perform blood tests to get to the root of the problem. Once they know the cause, they can determine an appropriate treatment plan.
3. Your Handwriting, Your Sense of Smell, or Your Dreams Change
Closeup view on the shaking hand of a person holding drinking glass suffering from Parkinson’s disease
Credit: Shutterstock
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Although it may sound bizarre, these could all be early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms of the disease usually occur gradually and get worse over time. They may include:
Tremor (trembling) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
Stiffness of the limbs and trunk
Slowness of movement
Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
Depression or other emotional changes
Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
Urinary problems or constipation
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Skin problems
Sleep disruptions
Early signs of Parkinson’s are often very subtle. For example, you might have very slight tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. You might notice your handwriting is slow or looks cramped and small. You may even find you’re often speaking too softly.
Many people with the disease report that before they started experiencing tremors or stiffness, they had sleep problems, constipation, they couldn’t smell very well, and they had restless legs.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are some treatment options to relieve symptoms. Of course, the earlier you can get a diagnosis, the more effective treatment will be.
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If you think you may have the disease, talk to your doctor. Many other diseases have similar features but require different treatments, so it is important to determine your exact diagnosis [6].
4. You’re Experiencing Anger and Aggression
close-up on the fist of an aggressive man. a concept showing violence against people, domestic violence, frustration, irritation and anger
Credit: Shutterstock
Of course, anger is a normal emotion that we all experience from time to time. Excessive, uncontrolled anger that is triggered by trivial issues, however, is not. What many people may not realize is that sudden outbursts of anger can actually be a sign of depression.
There have been multiple psychologists and clinicians who have suggested that difficulties coping with anger could play an important role in depression and anxiety disorders. Many of them have noted that a propensity toward hatred and hostility is a sign of depression.
Many treatment options for depression, however, ignore anger as a symptom. If you or a loved one are struggling with angry outbursts, consider talking to your doctor or a mental health professional for help [7].
