Why the Warning Signs of Your Body Are More Important than Your Notifications
We are in a world where our phones buzz every few seconds. We look at emails in the morning, browse social media before going to sleep and check messages on the street. However, the thing is that, as we are always attached to our devices, we are getting very much attached to them to the point of being very much disconnected with our organisms.
Each and every day your body sends signals. Some are gentle whispers. Others are loud alarms. The scary part? The reason why many people disregard these warnings is that they are too busy, too distracted or they are just convinced that it is nothing to worry about.
This paper will take you through the essential body cues that you should pay attention to. We will elaborate on the meanings of them, reasons why they occur, and the time when you should place your phone aside and use the phone to call your doctor instead.
The Digital Distraction Threat
Before we dive into the specifics of the symptoms, it is important to discuss why it is especially relevant today.
Research indicates that the average human being uses their phone 96 times in a day. That is once in every 10 minutes of the time awake. The result of this continuous digital interaction causes a side effect that is not very good: we are no longer sensitive to bodily pain.
You can also neglect a headache since you are responding to an email at work. Tightness in the chest rubs off as you are watching a video. You are telling yourself that you can ignore the weird pains, as you are going to post something important.
This delay can be deadly.
Pain or Pressure in the Chest That Just Won’t Go Away
Let’s start with the big one. Chest pain or a sense of pressure must be carefully noted and, in particular, when it feels like a person is sitting on your chest.
Heart attacks do not necessarily manifest themselves with theatrical Hollywood-type collapses. In some cases they may begin lightly. The pain may extend to your neck, jaw or left arm. You may get out of breath, or break a cold sweat.
Women usually get other symptoms as opposed to men. Instead of manifested pain in the chest, they may experience deep fatigue, nausea, or pain in the back.
What to do: Don’t wait. Don’t Google it. Don’t post about it. Contact emergency services. When blood flow is cut off, the muscle of the heart dies and time is of the essence.
Acute Disorientation or Stuttering
Think about you typing a message and you are unable to recall simple words. Or someone poses you a simple question and your head is cloudy. This is not merely stress or exhaustion.
The onset of a stroke can be heralded by sudden confusion, inability to speak, or difficulty in understanding another person. Other warning signs include:
- Half your face like you have slackened
- Arm weakness on one side
- Intense headache that does not have an apparent cause
- Visual impairments in one or both eyes
- Dizziness or loss of balance
The medical fraternity employs the acronym FAST:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to make an emergency call
Stroke needs prompt intervention. The initial hours are critical towards the prevention of irreversible brain damage.
Constant Exhaustion Which Can Be Cured by No Sleep
We all get tired. There is no fatigue like a state between work, family, and endless scrolling. However, there is ordinary fatigue and the fatigue that you need to be concerned about.
Red flag fatigue is another thing. You take eight hours sleep and still end up being tired. Minor assignments are overwhelming. You have to take some rest after you have been in activities that never bothered you before.
Such fatigue may signify a number of severe disorders:
- Anemia (low iron levels)
- Thyroid problems
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Sleep apnea
- Cancer
When to visit a doctor: In case of extreme tiredness after two weeks of effective sleep, a healthy diet, and reduced stress levels, make an appointment.
The Weight Changes That You Did Not Intend to Make
Your jeans fit in a different way and you have not undergone any change in your diet or exercise. This may appear like a blessing or miracle but the changes in weight that cannot be explained should be investigated.
Dropping 10 pounds or more without any effort may be an indication of:
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cancer
- Digestive disorders
- Depression
Weight gain within a short period may mean:
- Thyroid problems
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Hormonal imbalances
Monitor your weight and dietary patterns. When there is a significant movement of the scale without any reason, discuss with your doctor.
Shortness of Breath in the Course of Routine Activities
You used to go up the stairs once without even thinking. Now you’re winded halfway up. You cannot even walk to your car without having to catch a breath.
Difficulty in breathing that occurs over time is usually overlooked since we become used to it with time. We point the finger at old age or weight or being out-of-shape. But shortness of breath on exertion may indicate:
- Heart problems
- Lung disease
- Blood clots
- Anemia
- Anxiety disorders
This is particularly worrying when you also have chest pain, dizziness or leg and ankle swelling.
Recurrent or Acute Headaches
Majority of headaches are irritating but benign. You pop in some pills, drink a glass of water and pass. However, there are some headaches that should be medicated.
Danger signs include:
- The worst headache ever (acute and abrupt)
- Waking up at night with headaches
- Weekly increasing pain
- Headache with a fever, stiff neck or confusion
- Changes in vision or balance
- Post head injury headaches
The symptoms may reflect meningitis, hemorrhage in the brain, tumors, and other dangerous diseases. Don’t tough it out.
Changes in Bathroom Habits
Bathroom habits is a topic no one wants to discuss, but it is a great indicator of your health. Alterations in bowel or bladder habits of more than a few days should be discussed.
Watch for:
- Blood in urine or stool
- Black, tarry stools
- Continuous diarrhea or constipation
- Painful urination
- More frequent urination (more so at night)
- The inability to commence or discontinue urination
Such changes may be the indicators of infections, inflammatory diseases, kidney issues, or cancer. The sooner the treatment the better.
Persistent Cough or Hoarseness
Any cough that persists beyond three weeks is not a joke. It could be a sign of:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Lung cancer
- Heart failure
Hoarseness which does not improve within two weeks may be an indication of:
- Vocal cord problems
- Thyroid issues
- Throat cancer
- Nerve damage
You should be even more concerned with respiratory symptoms, in case you smoke or used to smoke.
Skin Changes and New Moles
The biggest organ of your body is your skin and it is what informs you that something is wrong. The vast majority of moles are harmless, though the change is to be noted.
Use the ABCDE rule for moles:
- Asymmetry: Half does not match the other half
- Border: Edges irregular or blurred
- Color: A variety of colors or disproportional color
- Diameter: Bigger than a pencil eraser
- Evolving: Change of size, shape, or color
Also watch for:
- Sores that don’t heal
- New growths
- Itchy, painful or bleeding patches
- Changes in existing moles
When diagnosed early, skin cancer can be treated easily. Take pictures of suspicious areas so that they can be used to monitor the changes.
Swelling in Legs, Ankles, or Feet
You spend a day at work and find your ankles swollen. Your shoes feel tight. You put your finger on your shin and you leave a mark there.
Slight swelling occurs occasionally in all people particularly when they have sat or stood longer. However, chronic or acute swelling may signify:
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Liver problems
- Blood clots
- Medication side effects
In case of swelling with shortness of breath, chest pain, or swelling on one leg more than on the other, then emergency treatment is required.
Prolonged Fever of Unknown Etiology
Fever is the indication that your body is combating something. Majority of fevers are as a result of common infections and disappear within several days. However, any fever which does not subside or recurs is something to be investigated.
See a doctor if:
- Fever takes over three days
- Temperature exceeds 103°F (39.4°C)
- Fever is accompanied by intense headache, stiff neck or confusion
- You possess a weakened immune system
- Fever keeps returning
Constant fevers may indicate infections, inflammatory disorders or even cancer.
Vision or Hearing Changes
The process of slowly losing our sight or hearing is common during old age. However, it is not typical to have sudden changes or swift deterioration at any age.
Eye warning signs:
- Sudden vision loss
- Spots or flashes of light
- Veil of darkness over sight
- Persistent eye pain
- Double vision
Ear warning signs:
- Sudden hearing loss
- Constant ringing in ears
- Hearing changes and feeling dizzy
- Ear pain with fever
These signs may be cases of detached retinas, glaucoma, infection, or neurological issues. Never wait until your next regular checkup.
When Digital Life Makes Things Worse
This is where the hyper-connected world connects with not paying attention to body signals: the digital life generates distractions and fake information.
Distraction problem: You are amidst symptoms but you think you cannot quit a meeting, miss a deadline or you are ignoring that urgent message. Health has been relegated in the face of digital commitments.
The misinformation issue: You use Google to see what the symptoms are and either you believe it is nothing, or you scare yourself with the worst possible outcome. Neither response helps. You require real medical examination but not web diagnosis.
Comparison trap: You look at other people enduring pain or illnesses on social media and you think you should do the same. This puts an unhealthy pressure on neglecting proper health concerns.
Building the Body Awareness that Everyone Deserves
Now that you have an idea of what to observe, it is time to discuss how to be in touch with your body regardless of the digital distractions.
Check-in device-free: Find five minutes in the morning and evening to observe your mood. No television, no cell phone, just you and your body. Ask yourself: What hurts? What feels different? What improved?
Maintain a symptom journal: When something does not seem right, put it down. Provide details on what, how long and what you were doing. This will assist you in identifying trends and will provide your physician with useful data.
Establish health parameters: Body signals take precedence over text, email or notification. Period. Allow yourself to disconnect with digital requirements in instances where something is amiss.
Follow your gut: You understand your body like no one. When something feels wrong in a serious manner then it is likely so. Embarrassment, hectic schedules, and disruptions of technology should not stop you from receiving help.
For more guidance on maintaining your health and wellness in today’s digital age, visit Rokvia for additional resources and expert advice.
The Price of Not Listening to the Body
Being honest as to what happens when people do not pay attention to warning signs:
Heart attacks turn fatal. Strokes lead to permanent disability. Cancers develop to an advanced stage. Infections spread. Controllable circumstances transform into chronic diseases.
Many people die daily due to ailments that would have been addressed had they been detected at an earlier date. Instead, they disregarded the signals since they were too busy, too distracted or too sure that it would disappear by itself.
Your online existence will not perish because you need a health rest. But otherwise your body may not survive.
The Next Step to Follow is to Take Action
Nothing would change after reading this article unless you take some action on what you have been taught. Here’s your action plan:
Today: Do a quick body scan. Watch out for any nagging signs of your own that you have been downplaying. Write them down.
This week: In case you have any red-flag symptoms as this article lists, make an appointment with a doctor. Wait not till symptoms become complicated.
This month: Have a system of frequent body check-ins. Have phone reminders (yes, use technology to help take a technology break).
Going forward: Spread this information with individuals whom you care about. Most individuals do not pay attention to symptoms due to the fact that they are not aware of the serious and not serious ones.
The Bottom Line
Your smartphone is dumber than your body. It is aware of the wrongness of something and it attempts to inform you. The question is: do you hear?
We have become extremely attentive to machines and absolutely inattentive to ourselves in a hyper-connected world. We react to buzzes and beeps immediately and neglect pain, exhaustion, and any warning signals days or weeks long.
This needs to change.
There is a reason why your body provides you with signals. A few of such signals are informal hints. Other ones are emergency warnings. Knowing what to do when in need can save your life.
So drop your phone, will you? How do you actually feel? What have you been ignoring? What needs attention?
Do not allow digital distractions to cost you your health. There is something that your body is attempting to show you. Listen.
For more information on recognizing medical emergencies and when to seek help, visit the American Heart Association for comprehensive resources on heart health and emergency response.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine whether the given symptom is serious enough to visit the emergency room?
Emergency medical care is required without delay because of chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden and severe headache, stroke symptoms, excessive bleeding, or severe pain in the abdomen. Always call the emergency services when in doubt and leave it to the professionals.
Should I Google my symptoms before attending a doctor?
Light research is okay, but you should not rely on internet searches to do your diagnosis and talk yourself out of visiting a doctor. Use Google to understand when you have to consult a professional rather than to avoid medical consultation.
What happens when I will not be able to afford to visit the doctor with every symptom?
Numerous communities have free or low-cost clinics. There are some symptoms which are real emergencies and should be taken care of no matter what the cost is. In non-emergency cases, most physicians provide payment options or may assist with referrals.
How much time can I wait before I visit a doctor with these persistent symptoms?
Two weeks would suffice in the case of minor symptoms such as cough or small pain. In case of anything that disrupts daily functions or is getting worse, visit a physician within a period of a week. In case of severe or acute symptoms seek emergency care.
Is it possible that stress can lead to physical symptoms that can resemble severe diseases?
Yes, stress and anxiety do not exist in a vacuum and have actual physical manifestations such as chest tightness, headaches, digestive problems, and fatigue. Never think it is merely a stress symptom, though, without seeking medical attention. Allow your physician to determine that.
What is the difference between listening to my body and being a hypochondriac?
Listening to your body refers to the ability to observe persistent or unusual symptoms and to take the necessary treatment. Hypochondria is the fear of being sick all the time even though it is reassured to a patient that he/she is healthy. In case of doubt, you can discuss your issues with a healthcare professional.