50 Signs of Bad Health You Shouldn't Ignore

While the coronavirus pandemic is keeping most of us from visiting hospitals except when absolutely necessary, there are thousands of things you would rather do than go to the doctor, especially if you are a man.

The latest survey in the United States showed that more than 40 percent of men do not get annual checkups, which, of course, is not very useful when it comes to health. Of course, there are obvious symptoms that are clear as day, saying: "Go to the doctor!" But, at the same time, there are many signs of poor health, which are usually not paid attention to, but it would be necessary to become a healthier person. Here are 50 of them.

You may think that pain or swollen joints are due to digging your garden bed or changing a wheel yesterday, but it could also indicate something more serious.

"One thing you should never ignore is joint swelling and stiffness. It can happen anywhere, whether it's the arms, legs or knees," says Adam Kreytenberg, MD. "These symptoms are a sign of deteriorating health.

This can often be the start of benign degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis, but it can also be something more serious. These may be early signs of autoimmune, rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, immune system imbalance, hormonal imbalance, poor diet, or physical "deactivation". Your body is telling you something wrong.

If you are always cold, no matter how many blankets you cover yourself with, this may indicate hypothyroidism. If you feel cold and people around you are comfortable without a coat, then it's time to check the level of thyroid hormones.

If you sit your pants all day at work and then all evening at home, then you set yourself up for poor health, says physiotherapist and orthopedist Daniel Weiss. Lack of activity not only causes problems such as muscle and joint pain, poor stamina, and difficulty with functional movements, but can also weaken your body.

"When you're not moving or doing any exercise, even just walking, the body gradually weakens," says Weiss. "Muscles and joints no longer properly stabilize the body. Often, these restrictions lead to pain that further perpetuates a sedentary lifestyle. The good news is that almost all men can start some form of exercise program, no matter how sedentary they are."< /p>

When you encounter certain symptoms every day, it's not uncommon to brush them aside and gradually forget them. If you want to stay healthy for years to come, then remember that this is one of the worst steps you can take.

"Some chronic symptoms, such as fatigue, low testosterone, slow metabolism, digestive disorders, joint and body pain, and skin conditions, are the result of chronic inflammation," says inflammatory disease specialist Jenny Carr.

They become significantly more pronounced over time as inflammation builds up and can develop into serious or even life-threatening conditions, including cancer, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.

From time to time forgetting where you put your car keys or the TV remote is a normal part of the aging process. This is what medical experts think.

However, it's not normal to forget what the remote control or car key is for. And these are only the most harmless examples.

Specialists at the Cleveland Clinic believe that these memory problems may be a sign of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, which is much more serious.

For more information on memory-related symptoms, check out the Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease that all people over 40 should be aware of.

Of course, many men gain weight with age. But if you allow your waist to grow, then tune in to health problems.

"Most men know that obesity affects their well-being, but do not realize that even if the weight is within the normal range, abdominal or" visceral "fat can be dangerous," says Nate Favini, MD. "Visceral fat increases the risk of diseases like heart disease and diabetes even more than being overweight."

Losing extra pounds is incredibly difficult for most people, usually you make an effort in the gym and are forced to limit yourself at the table. So if you're losing weight and don't understand why, this could be cause for concern. The Mayo Clinic believes that losing more than 5 percent of your body weight in six months to a year is a sign of a long list of health problems, including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer, and liver disease.

If your cough is stuck for longer than a normal cold for 3-4 weeks, it could be a sign of something more serious, potentially even coronavirus. According to Harvard Medical School, a common symptom in patients with advanced heart disease can be a chronic cough that worsens at night when you lie on a flat surface due to fluid buildup in the lungs.

Harvard Health claims that one of the main causes of a debilitating cough is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The acid expelled from the stomach irritates the nerves in the lower esophagus, which can cause coughing. And keep this in mind: Coughing fits can happen without heartburn, which is why many don't realize it's GERD in the first place.

If you experience discomfort in your chest when you exert yourself, it may be a sign that your heart is not as healthy as it should be.

"If a man experiences chest discomfort during physical exertion, which disappears after a few minutes of rest, he should immediately consult a doctor. This is a symptom that we call "angina pectoris", and it often indicates a deterioration in the arterial blood supply to the heart muscle", says cardiologist Barbara Roberts, MD. "Rarely, this symptom can be caused by narrowing of the aortic valve, which directs blood from the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, to the aorta."

The good news, she adds, is that "treating angina can lead to many years of healthy life."

Any time you have severe chest pain, don't take it lightly. This is always a medical emergency, according to Roberts, and anyone experiencing it should see a doctor immediately.

"If it's caused by a heart attack or an aortic dissection, prompt intervention can save a life," she says. "A heart attack is caused by a sudden interruption of blood flow to the heart muscle, usually by a clot in an artery. If blood flow is restored quickly, a vital organ can be saved. Aortic surgery can prevent a stroke and save a life."

12. Skin itching

Permanently itchy skin is not always a sign that you should use more moisturizer. This may be an indicator of advanced liver disease, the Cleveland Clinic says. One of the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver is severe itching of the skin. If you're worried that your scratches might be caused by a liver problem, make an appointment with your doctor.

Don't beat yourself up for not being able to get or keep an erection. Instead, talk to your healthcare professional about the problem. Harvard Medical School believes that erectile dysfunction may indicate heart disease or other circulatory problems. As with heart disease or a stroke, the buildup of fat and cholesterol in your arteries can restrict blood flow to your penis, resulting in problems in the bedroom.

Swollen feet, legs, or ankles are not unimportant. While this is often associated with eating too much salty foods, it can also be a sign of heart failure, kidney disease, liver failure, or inefficient blood flow to the legs.

You can get out of breath after carrying a sack of potatoes or quickly running up the stairs. But if a case of shortness of breath occurs suddenly after minimal or no exercise, it could be due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or something like bronchitis, asthma, or pneumonia.

"The sudden onset of shortness of breath should be a cause for concern. It could be caused by a blood clot in a leg vein and traveling to the lung, which we call a pulmonary embolism," says Roberts. "Massive pulmonary embolism can be fatal, but prompt diagnosis and treatment can be life-saving. Long air travel is not an uncommon scenario that can cause an increased risk." Therefore, if you experience shortness of breath with pain in your back or legs, especially during a flight, be sure to contact your doctor immediately.

Being sick after a workout is one thing, but if you're experiencing pain in your arms, back, shoulders, jaw, or stomach while exercising, it could be a sign of heart disease. "Any symptom that you think is caused by exercise and relieved by rest could be related to the heart," says Randall Zusman, MD, a Massachusetts cardiologist.

You used to be able to eat a "truck" of food before feeling full. Now all it takes is a few bites. If you experience a feeling of satiety as soon as you start eating, this may be due to GERD, peptic ulcers, or pancreatic cancer. That's what the Mayo Clinic thinks.

When you suddenly find yourself unable to speak, you feel that something is wrong. "Sudden speech problems can herald the onset of a stroke," says Roberts. "Prompt diagnosis and treatment will help prevent death or disability." If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, do not wait and try to get emergency help.

The sudden onset of speech problems is considered one of the telltale signs of a stroke, but Roberts says another common symptom is numbness on one side of your body. The most important thing you can do is get medical help as soon as possible.

According to Favini, the darkening of your skin may be due to Addison's disease. The disorder occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. Since symptoms develop slowly, including extreme fatigue, weight loss, and decreased appetite, it is important to see a doctor as it can be life-threatening.

There is usually a reason why your personality or behavior changes, but sometimes there is not. If you have noticed it yourself or your friends have told you about it, go to a specialist. At the Mayo Clinic, personality change can signal everything from infection and poor nutrition to a mental health condition.

If you feel thirsty no matter how much water you drink throughout the day, it could be a sign of diabetes. When you have excess glucose, the kidneys excrete it through the urine. Unfortunately, during this process, fluid is also released from the tissues, which makes you feel dehydrated and constantly thirsty.

No matter how many mints you put in your mouth, your bad breath won't go away. So what's the problem? Persistent bad breath or persistent bad taste in the mouth is most often a warning sign of advanced gum disease, according to the American Dental Association.

You should be especially concerned if weight loss goes hand in hand with changing your toilet habits. "Unexplained weight loss and changes in bowel habits are indicative of poor health," says Roberts. "They can indicate bowel cancer, and early detection and treatment will save lives."

Most men have a pretty steady toilet schedule. If this definitely doesn't apply to you, Favini says, then you need to make some changes to your diet.

"Constipation is often a sign that you're not getting enough fiber in your diet. Increasing your fiber intake by eating more fruits and vegetables not only makes going to the bathroom easier, it can help lower your blood cholesterol levels and protect your heart," explains he.

Seeing your black stool while going to the toilet is a little unsettling. According to the journal Clinical Methods, the presence of black, tarry stools may indicate bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, which should be investigated promptly.

Bright red stools are something you should tell your doctor about immediately. It is generally accepted that red stools are associated with bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract, usually in the colon. While it could be caused by something like hemorrhoids, it could also be caused by a more serious cause of colorectal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer usually doesn't show any symptoms at first until it has spread. With that said, if you find yourself coughing up blood, it's best to get checked out right away. This way, if it is cancer, you will be able to determine the diagnosis as early as possible.

Back pain is one of the most common conditions in America, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, severe acute back pain can be caused by an aortic dissection. This is a life-threatening ailment and emergency care is needed immediately.

If your urine is always dark yellow, it may be a sign that you are not drinking enough water during the day. By simply increasing the amount of water you drink, you can improve your health. "Drinking up to 3 liters of water a day is the fastest way to get rid of inflammation in the body, get energy, stabilize blood sugar and lubricate the joints," Carr says.

Frequent trips to the toilet may mean you're getting those standard eight glasses of water a day, but it can also be a sign of diabetes. When your kidneys can't handle excess blood glucose, they get rid of it through urine, says the Mayo Clinic. Since this process makes you dehydrated, it makes you drink even more water and urinate more often.

If you find yourself waking up several times a night to urinate, it could be related to prostate cancer.In addition to frequent urination at night, you may also have a slow or weak stream, or problems with urination in general, according to the American Cancer Society. While another explanation for these problems may be benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate adenoma), which is not malignant, this is something that needs to be brought to the attention of the doctor in any case.

Does it feel good to be breathless from doing simple things throughout the day? Take this as a sign from your body trying to tell you that in order to live long, you need to make some lifestyle changes.

"If you find yourself easily overtaken when climbing stairs or going about your daily activities, this could of course be a sign of developing heart or respiratory problems. But it most likely means you need to spend more time exercise," says Favini. "Check with your doctor and then hit the gym."

By your age, you know your body quite well. This means that if you notice anything unusual, especially in the groin area, you need to report it to a specialist. "If you find a lump in your scrotum, even a small lump, it could be a sign of testicular cancer and should be examined as soon as possible," says Favini.

While a testicular lump is the most telling indicator of testicular cancer, the American Cancer Society says you may also experience a painful feeling of heaviness or pain in your lower abdomen, as well as swelling in one of your testicles. If you can't tell if your testicle is swollen or larger than the other, which is perfectly normal, check with your doctor.

One of the earliest and most easily detected symptoms of Parkinson's disease is impaired handwriting. Specifically, micrography, which is an abnormally small letter size, according to the journal Movement Disorders Clinical Practice. If you or someone close to you notice that the size of your handwriting is decreasing, see a doctor.

Snoring doesn't just keep your partner awake. According to a study done at Harvard Medical School, snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, when the upper airways are completely or partially blocked during sleep. If sleep apnea is not treated, it can lead to serious medical problems, including pulmonary hypertension. If this happens, it can cause increased stress on the heart, up to a heart attack.

Feeling tired after a long day is normal.

Problems arise when you feel tired all the time, no matter how much effort you put in.

"Torn between work, family and other responsibilities, many men feel tired," says Favini.

"But constant fatigue, when you never feel like you have the energy you need, can be a sign of thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, or an immune system disorder. Talk to your doctor about this."

If you find yourself literally falling asleep doing simple daily activities or worse, driving, it could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which makes you feel incredibly tired during the day, according to the National Sleep Foundation . If you leave sleep apnea untreated, you may be setting yourself up for future health problems and accidents.

Have you ever noticed little specks or "clouds" moving in your field of vision?

The Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan says it's probably due to floating particles, small clumps of gel or cells floating inside your eye.

If they appear suddenly, contact your optometrist immediately.

While they are a normal part of the aging process, they can also signal a retinal tear, which can lead to retinal detachment and loss of vision.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, any sudden changes, such as "double vision", blurred vision, or complete loss of vision, can be caused by a stroke.

The longer the brain goes without fresh oxygen, the lower the chances of survival and recovery.

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency care immediately.

As you can see, our eyes are not only a "mirror of the soul", but also an indicator of one or another ill health. Do not ignore such signs.

The appearance of a yellow tint in the whites of the eyes is a clear indicator that your liver is not in the best condition. "This could be a sign of serious liver problems and should be evaluated by a doctor," Favini says. Since alcohol can cause damage to this vital organ, don't drink until you're told it's okay.

If you have yellowish bumps around your eyes, they are most likely the result of xanthelasma. Cholesterol deposits that appear under the skin are benign and do not spread, but they can be a sign of hyperlipidemia, a condition in which you have high levels of fatty particles, including cholesterol and triglycerides, in your blood.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, if this occurs frequently, it may be due to certain diseases, including various types of cancer, hormonal disorders, infections, or a mental disorder.

If you feel like you're sweating when it's not hot, you should take care of your health. "A 2005 study from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that when a person begins to sweat, with discomfort in the chest, arm, neck, or jaw with little to no exertion, it may indicate the onset of a heart attack."

While a fever means your body is trying to fight off an infection, its persistence is an indication that something is wrong with your health. The Mayo Clinic believes this may be due to cancer, so it's important to have your doctor check you as soon as possible.

If you often experience hypersensitivity to high temperatures, it may be due to thyroid problems, according to Harvard Medical School. Men with an overactive thyroid gland tend to feel hot in normal climates and sweat heavily for no reason, while those around them do not react to such conditions.

Look at your nails. If the tips look like the round part of an upside down spoon, it could be a condition that is commonly associated with heart and lung disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because the most common cause of clogged nails is lung cancer, get yourself checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

If you notice any major changes happening to your body, then this is not something that can be ignored. Direct road to a medical specialist to sort out this issue.