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Submitted by Dr S. Patel on 13 March 2019
A woman wearing a tank top and sitting on the bed clutching her side

Certain common day symptoms which last long may be signs of something serious. It is best to not ignore these. Dr. Shital Raval lists 13 such symptoms that women should not ignore.

Women often tend to sideline their health over everything else going in their lives. After a long day it is common to have achy joints, tiredness, general feelings of malaise etc. all of which usually subside after a good night’s rest. However, if there are symptoms that are lasting, unexplained and do not subside with standard remedies; they should raise a red flag. If you notice any such red flag symptoms, don’t brush them aside. And don't try to self-diagnose. See your Doctor right away for a check-up.

  1. Bloating. In most cases, bloating is nothing to worry about. However, if it is persistent, can be an early sign of Uterine Fibroids, Ovarian Cancer or Pancreatic Cancer.
     
  2. Pelvic pain that is different from your usual cramps. It can be sharp, one-sided and comes on suddenly. If it’s on the right side, suspect appendicitis, right ovarian cyst or rupture, kidney stone etc. On the left side, suspect left ovarian cyst or rupture, diverticulitis, left kidney stone etc. If severe lasting pain is accompanied by bloating, suspect Ovarian or Pancreatic cancer.
     
  3. Breast changes such as dimpling, nipple discharge, discoloration, lumps should be brought to you Doctor’s attention right away. They can be signs of Breast cancer, Fibroid cysts or benign lumps. Benign lumps usually occur before or during your menstrual cycle and disappear soon after. Every woman should be self-examining her breasts regularly (once a month) so that any changes in size, shape or texture are noticed promptly.
     
  4. Swelling in the ankles or leg means that the heart is unable to pump blood back efficiently leading to edema. This could be due to a Valve problem or Congestive heart failure.
     
  5. Pain in one leg or calf which is sudden and sharp is often indicative of a blood clot. Women who are on oral contraceptive pills are at a higher risk of developing clots known as DVTs (deep-vein thrombosis). Look out for swelling that may accompany the pain especially after a long journey in a car or airplane.
     
  6. Unexplained weight change- While most of us look forward to any weight loss, sudden or unplanned loss can be due to an underlying ailment such as Diabetes, Crohn’s, Celiac disease, Thyroid disorder, Stomach ulcers, or even Cancer. Unexplained weight gain too can be alarming as it can point towards Cushing syndrome, Thyroid disorder, Hormonal changes such as PCOS or menopause etc. Remember that depression and anxiety can also affect body weight.
     
  7. Heavy or painful periods. Periods may vary from month to month but should be alarming if they have become extremely heavy (> 16 soaked sanitary pads or tampons) or painful. The most common causes include Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Uterine fibroids, Pelvic Inflammatory disease, IUD etc.
     
  8. Abnormal Vaginal bleeding is any bleeding that occurs outside your normal menstrual cycle. Various factors can be responsible for this such as polyps, fibroids, pregnancy, cervical infection or cancer, hormonal imbalance (seen in teenagers or menopausal women) etc.

    Don't miss: Understanding all about Vaginal Discharge, Vaginal Infections

  9. Vaginal discharge can be of many types, so keep an eye out for them. While most are due to a yeast or bacterial infection, discharge which is foul-smelling, brown or bloody with chunks of tissue may be due to Cervical Cancer.
     
  10. Pain during sex. Dryness, allergy, or muscle tightening (vaginismus) are common causes for painful intercourse. However, if the pain occurs during or deeper into penetration, it may hint at issues such as yeast/bacterial infection, UTI, STD or endometriosis.
     
  11. Vision problems- While aging can cause change in prescription, blurry vision that appears after a prescription change can be a sign of diabetes. This is because rising sugar levels cause fluid to build up in the eyes. Beware of sudden loss of vision in one eye or field which is a red flag for Stroke. Strokes usually affect one side only.
     
  12. Chronic cough- which lasts for more than a month is likely not from your regular cold, flu or allergies. Unrelenting cough can be from a serious infection like pneumonia or TB, from chronic diseases such as COPDs, Interstitial lung diseases or even lung cancer.
     
  13. Fatigue which is chronic, occurring daily and interrupts your routine life should be looked into. If you feel tired easily, have general aches and pains, are unable to accomplish simple tasks and are exhausted half way through the day, suspect Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia or a heart issue.