Having swollen feet, legs, and/or ankles isn’t something to take lightly. While it could be due to eating too much salty food, Harvard Medical School says it could also be a sign of heart failure, kidney disease, liver failure, or inefficient blood flow to your legs. Your friends might notice a change in your behavior or personality before you even do. If it comes about suddenly, the Mayo Clinic says it could be a sign of poor health, whether that’s an infection, poor nutrition, a mental health condition, or the result of a medication you’re taking. “Depression, anxiety, and thyroid problems can all impact sleep. If you have trouble sleeping for a long period of time, discuss it with your doctor.”
Decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. And some people may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. As the disease progresses, people experience greater memory loss and other cognitive difficulties. “This can feel like a blessing if you’re overweight, but it may be a sign that your body is not properly absorbing nutrients,” says Nancy Woodbury, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Boca Raton, Florida.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical attention if you have abdominal pain that is so severe that you can’t stay still. Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
While a fever can simply mean your body is trying to fight off an infection, having one that’s persistent could be a signal that something is wrong with your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, it could be due to cancerous conditions, so it’s important to get checked out by your doctor ASAP. Sometimes there’s a reason your personality or behavior changes, but other times, less so. Whether you notice it first or your friends tell you something seems off, head to the doctor.
It provides advice on how to support children with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Spotting the signs and symptoms of possible mental health issues relies on having a relationship with that child, so that you can notice when their behaviour is different from what is normal for them. The more relationships a child has, the better, because it is more likely that they will feel safe and comfortable enough to speak up when they are struggling.
The Mayo Clinic says a personality change could signal everything from an infection and poor nutrition to a mental health condition. According to Favini, the darkening of your skin could be due to Addison’s disease. The disorder occurs when your adrenal glands aren’t producing enough cortisol and aldosterone. Since symptoms develop slowly over time—including extreme fatigue, weight loss, and decreased appetite—it’s important to go to your doctor immediately, as it can be life-threatening.
It could be a sign of Type 1 diabetes, in which the body stops producing insulin. “The lack of insulin causes weight loss and high blood glucose levels because the body’s cells become starved for energy,” she explains.
Having ice-cold hands and feet that no oversized fuzzy blanket can fix could be a sign of health problems. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the worst case scenario is it could be a sign of peripheral artery disease, scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or an under-active thyroid. But it could also just be Raynaud’s disease—a condition that’s typically benign that affects blood flow to your fingers and toes. As well as looking at signs and symptoms, this course also covers myths and the stigma associated with mental health issues.