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8 Body Signs Women
Should Heed
by
Joan Liebmann-Smith,
Ph.D. and Jacqueline Nardi Egan
Authors of
Body Signs
When we have
persistent pain, fever, or bleeding, it’s usually a wake up call that
something’s seriously wrong and we should see a doctor. But when our
bodies send us more subtle signs, such as hair loss, droopy eyelids, or
excessive gas, we tend to write them off as cosmetic concerns and try to
ignore or cover them up. However, if you turn a blind eye to nasty
nodules, a deaf ear to strange sounds, or your nose up at smelly smells,
you may be missing important warning signs of various diseases and
disorders.
Here are 8 body
signs women may be tempted to ignore that may spell trouble:
1. LOSING HAIR
While thinning hair
in women can be a sign of female-pattern baldness, an inherited
condition, it can also be signal a nutritional deficiency or a type of
diabetes related to excess androgens. If you suddenly start noticing
lots of hair in your drain or on your pillow, it can be a tell-tale sign
of a hormonal disorder such as hypopitituitarism, or more commonly,
hyperthyroidism. Other signs of an over-active thyroid include weight
loss, jitteriness, excessive hunger and thirst, and heat intolerance.
One of the most common but often under-diagnosed autoimmune diseases,
hyperthyroidism is 7 times more likely to strike women than men. The
good news is that it’s easily treatable.
2. FACIAL OR BODY
HAIR
Hair sprouting in
undesirable places, especially on the face and chest, usually signals a
hormonal imbalance from such conditions as Cushing’s syndrome or
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Cushing’s is a rare condition that
affects more women than men and usually strikes between the ages of 20
and 50. Weight gain, fat on the upper back ("buffalo hump") and torso
but thin arms and legs, round face, irregular periods, and fatigue are
other common signs. PCOS is much more common, affecting 6% to 8% of
women of childbearing age, and is a major cause of infertility. Other
signs include acne and being overweight. Both conditions are usually
treatable with drugs. And while having some facial hair is fairly common
during menopause because of the decrease in estrogen and increase in
androgen, a lot of facial or body hair in postmenopausal women can
signal the presence of ovarian cysts or ovarian cancer.
3. FEELING COLD ALL
THE TIME
If you find yourself
shivering year round, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism, one of
the most under-diagnosed conditions in women. Indeed, it’s estimated
that more than half of the cases of go undiagnosed. This is very
unfortunate since an under-active thyroid causes a variety of unpleasant
signs such as weight gain, constipation, dry hair, skin, and nails.
Hypothyroidism is much more common in women than men and usually affects
them over the age of 50. Like other hormonal disorders, it can be
treated with medication.
4. DROOPY EYELIDS
The skin on our
eyelids, as well as under our eyes, naturally sags as we get older.
Droopy eyelids can also be another warning sign of hypothyroidism, which
tends to affect older women. In younger women, however, droopy eyelids
can signal myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune, neuromuscular disease that
is more common in women than men. It tends to strike women between the
ages of 20 and 40 (and men over 60), and it’s more common in women than
men. Other signs may include double vision, difficulty swallowing,
hoarseness, and muscle weakness. If you only have one droopy eyelid, it
may be due to Bell’s palsy, a temporary facial paralysis, or Horner’s
syndrome, a nerve-damage disorder. If one eyelid suddenly droops, it can
be a serious warning sign of a stroke.
5. DRY EYES AND
MOUTH
In winter, many
women notice that their eyes and skin are dry and their mouths are
parched as a result of low humidity and over-heated rooms. Mucous
membranes can also become dry as a side effect of various medications,
as well as from the loss of estrogen that normally accompanies aging.
But dry eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes, including the vagina,
can also signal Sjorgren’ s syndrome, a serious autoimmune disease that
primarily affects women in their 40s and 50s. Joint inflammation or
tenderness is another common sign. Although Sjorgren’s is not rare, it
often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Unfortunately it’s a
progressive disease that, without treatment, can cause eye damage,
dental decay and gum disease, and can damage the digestive and
reproductive systems. Although there is no cure, early detection and
treatment can help alleviate the symptoms and help stop the progression
of the disease.
6. HOARSE OR HUSKY
VOICE
A deep, husky voice
in a woman is often a dead giveaway that she is or was a heavy smoker.
But a chronically hoarse or gravelly voice can also signal
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as reflux. It can
also be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, as well as a host of serious
autoimmune conditions, including hypothyroidism, myasthenia gravis,
rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. A husky voice may signal a
hormonal imbalance, and many women notice their voices deepening during
or after menopause. Lastly, chronic hoarseness can be a warning sign of
benign or malignant growths on the vocal cords, throat, mouth, or neck.
7. DISCOLORED,
SWOLLEN BREAST
Many women get
swollen breasts before their periods and when they’re pregnant. But if
you have a swollen breast that’s red or discolored and feels warm, it
may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare, but very
aggressive, form of breast cancer. Unfortunately, IBC is often
misdiagnosed by doctors as an infection or even an insect bite. And,
unlike with other forms of breast cancer, most women with IBC do not
have a breast lump. The skin of the breast may also be dimpled like the
skin of an orange, and there may be breast tenderness, itching, or
aching. With early diagnosis and treatment, more women are surviving
this deadly form of cancer.
8. TOO MUCH GAS OR
FEELING BLOATED
Excessive gas can
cause flatulence, not to mention embarrassment. When the gas doesn’t get
released, our bellies become distended and we feel bloated. Being gassy
or bloated may be a sign that you have lactose intolerance or food
allergies. It can also be an indication of some serious gastrointestinal
conditions such as gallstones and irritable bowel syndrome, or even
cancer of the digestive system. Bloating can also be an early warning
sign of ovarian cancer, one of the deadliest and one of the most
under-diagnosed cancers in women. Other early warning signs include
pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and
feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate. The prognosis is good if
diagnosed early. Unfortunately, most cases
–
80%
–
aren’t caught early enough to save a woman’s life.
The bottom line is
if you notice any of these signs, be sure to mention them to your doctor
as soon as possible. He or she can determine whether it’s something you
can safely ignore or something that warrants further diagnosis or
treatment.
Author
Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph.D.,
is a medical sociologist and award-winning medical writer. Her articles
have appeared in American Health,
Ms.,
Newsweek,
Redbook,
Self, and
Vogue, and she has appeared
on numerous television talk shows, including
The Oprah Winfrey Show and
The Today Show. She has a
daughter, Rebecca, a cat, Fazelnut, and lives with her husband, Richard
-- also a writer -- in New York City.
Jacqueline Nardi Egan is a medical journalist who specializes
in developing and writing educational programs with and for physicians,
allied health professionals, patients, and consumers. She is also a
former medical editor of Family
Health magazine. She has a daughter, Elizabeth, two dogs,
Coco and Abby, and divides her time between Darien, Connecticut, and Sag
Harbor, New York. Visit www.bodysignsbook.com for
more info.
Body Signs;
Bantam Dell December 2007;$25.00US/$30.00CAN; 978-0-553-80507-9 is
available at all booksellers.
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