We have heard it too many times that our health should be our number one priority but although the concept of self-care appears to be exceptionally good in theory, in practicality it seems a bit difficult. In the contemporary world, self-care or regular full body check-up has become a far-fetched idea to be honest.
This lifestyle of ours has made us so restless and always on the go, that we do not even have a second to sit back and relax, let alone taking care of our bodies. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), individuals are considered as active agents when it comes to taking care of themselves.
But are we really that active when it comes to taking care of ourselves?
We, humans, have a tendency to keep track on the health of others but when our own health is compromised, whether physical or mental, we always take a back seat.
We think that we can cure anything with just a single dose of medication. Getting a headache? Pop a pill. Stomach ache? Pop a pill. Joint pain? Pop a pill.
Our go-to option is always taking medication without even consulting a doctor. We depend so heavily on medicines that we do not realize that this is just a temporary solution and not a permanent one. Popping pills unnecessarily without understanding the root cause is doing more harm than good.
Sometimes there are certain signs that our body is trying to convey to us repeatedly which are so trivial that we overlook them. If those signs are consistent and not treated at the right time, then it may have a tendency to become something lethal either over the years or just in a few months.
There are certain signs one should not avoid at any cost when it comes to our body. Identifying these signs will help us detect an underlying illness or a disease at its earliest stage.
Knowledge about these signs can help you save your life as well as of those around you.
Let’s find out what are the signs that SCREAM it is time to get a full body check-up.
Sign #1 Significant Weight Loss
Everyone dreams about losing weight without putting in any efforts. Well, some people unintentionally do shed a lot of kilos. However, this is never a good sign. NEVER. The reasons can vary from an overactive or underactive thyroid gland to heart failure. If your body weight has reduced unintentionally by 5 per cent or more in the last six months, then it is time for a full body health check-up as it will help in detecting the health condition responsible for it.
(Source: Cleveland Clinic, Read the whole piece here)
Sign #2 Frequent Headaches
Headaches are something we experience day in and day out. More often than not we ignore it thinking it is because of how hectic our lives have become, we take a painkiller and move on with our lives.
Do you know that there are over a hundred types of headaches, and out of these there are a few which are common:
- Tension headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Cluster headaches
- Chronic daily headaches
- Sinus headaches
- Post-traumatic headaches
When headaches become severe and frequent, it indicates that there is some serious health condition which needs immediate medical assistance. A full body check-up can help us in understanding its root cause.
(Source: WebMD, Learn more about different types of headache here)
Sign #3 Sudden Change in Appetite
We experience changes in our appetite throughout our lives and this could be due to changes in our lifestyle whether it is stress from work or getting your heart broken. However, when these changes in appetite become drastic without any cause in sight then it is a warning sign of something serious. Get yourself checked immediately through a full body check-up.
Sign #4 Constant Fatigue
Has fatigue taken over your life?
Do you feel tired and experience severe muscle or joint pain all the time, without even lifting a pencil?
If your answer is yes, then you need to listen closely to what your body is saying as it can be associated to a number of health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid, heart disorders or nutritional deficiencies. Getting a full body health check-up can detect the cause behind constant fatigue so that medical assistance can be provided right on time.
According to Mayo Clinic, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is more common in women than men. Although there are no treatments available to cure it entirely, there are treatments which can lower the effects of some of its symptoms.
However, feeling tired or lethargic is not always due to a disease. It can also be due to heavy exertion, lack of sleep or having a large meal. So you need to read the signs carefully and if something still bothers you then you can always book a full body check-up.
Sign #5 Chest Pain
Chest pains are not always due to something serious, sometimes the reason may be indigestion or gastritis. Sudden sharp pain in the chest for a prolonged period of time indicates that you need medical assistance.
However, pain in the chest do not always indicate towards a heart attack. It may also be due to some terminal illness or disease, which is why a full body check-up can help you identify the cause behind frequent chest pains and the necessary steps needed to be taken.
(Source: WebMD, Learn more about causes of chest pain here)
Sign #6 Joint Pain and Stiffness
Most people have felt pain or stiffness in their joints at one time or another and in most cases it is due to heavy exertion, injury or arthritis. But if you are experiencing extreme pain and stiffness in your joints on a regular basis and it hinders your ability to perform day-to-day tasks then you may have to book yourself a full body check-up. As sometimes there is an inflammation in your body that you are unware of which needs to be treated soon. But if gone untreated then it may cause a serious long term health problem.
Sign #7 Abdominal Pain
Although pain in the abdominal area is pretty common, whether it is due to food poisoning, menstrual cramps or acidic problems. Most of these can be cured with either a short term medication courses or with no medication at all.
There are other lesser known problems which cause discomfort or abdominal pain, such as kidney stones, appendicitis, stomach ulcers and infections, and these issues need your immediate attention.
Also, some women may experience pain in their abdominal area as a symptom of a heart attack. So the next time you experience unexplainable severe abdominal pain then rush to a doctor and get yourself a full body check-up.
Sign #8 Disturbed Sleeping Patterns
Getting enough sleep every night without any interruptions is an important factor for a good health. Sometimes our sleeping pattern gets disturbed while maintaining a balance between our personal, professional and social lives.
Losing out on sleep for a few days just to binge-watch your favourite TV show or a movie is not an alarming issue. However, if you are oversleeping or not sleeping enough without any external disturbances and this has been going on for way too long then it is always a good idea to get a full body check-up as disturbances in sleeping pattern may be a sign of a health problem. If left undiagnosed, it can severely affect your life and not in a good way.
These recurring patterns of poor sleep can mean that you are suffering from a particular type of sleeping disorder.
Do you know that insomnia is not the only sleep disorder that is associated with disturbed patterns of sleep? There are approximately 80 types of sleep disorders.
The most common types of sleeping disorders are:
- Insomnia
- Sleep Apnea
- Narcolepsy
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Circadian Rhythm Disorders
- REM Behaviour Disorder
Most of the times people self-diagnose themselves as insomniac without knowing that there are different types of sleeping disorders that coexist. So in order to get yourself treated correctly, you need to get a full body check-up just to be sure about which type of sleep disorder you suffer from so that required and correct form of treatment can be done.
(Source: Florida Medical Clinic, Read more about sleep disorders here)
A full body check-up will not only help in answering all those questions you have been wondering about the signs that you keep on experiencing, but it will also help you in making an informed decision about your health so that better steps can be taken.
Full body check-ups should be done once or twice every year. Regular check-ups will keep a track on your physical health and will also help in keeping your mind at peace.
Now you know what to do when you experience these signs in the future. Get a FULL BODY CHECK-UP.
And Shhhhh! Listen to your body carefully, it is constantly telling you something.
