The Health Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

We all know the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep can all help us live longer and stronger. 

If you’re generally healthy, it can come as a shock to notice that something doesn’t feel right or that you’re not quite yourself. You probably shrug these little niggles off, thinking they’ll go away or sort themselves out. But when do little niggles become something to worry about?

Paying close attention to your health can help you get help when something is wrong. Check out these health warning signs you shouldn’t ignore and start taking your health more seriously. 

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Your eyesight is declining

Maintaining 20/20 vision throughout life isn’t something that many people achieve. Time spent staring at screens can affect your eyes, but your age can also be a factor into how great your eyesight is. If you notice yourself straining to read or see something, you’re experiencing headaches or any existing eyewear is no longer doing its job, make an appointment to have your eyes tested. While there are some things you can do to improve your eyesight, getting a prescription for glasses or contacts will soon help make things clear again.

Your blood pressure is high

It’s important to keep a close eye on your blood pressure, especially as you get older. If your blood pressure is too low or too high, you could be at risk of many different health conditions. There are links between high blood pressure and hearing loss, as well as increased risk of cardiovascular conditions. Check in with your physician who can advise you on how to get our blood pressure to a normal level.

You’re always tired

Tiredness is not uncommon – just ask any parent! But if you’re always tired despite a generally restful sleep, there could be something else affecting your energy levels.

A lot of people spend most of their days sat down at a desk, which can easily lead to a lack of energy. By eating a diet that will boost your energy and exercising regularly, you could soon pick up your energy levels and feel better in yourself. 

You’re overweight

People’s bodies come in all shapes and sizes, but there are some serious risks that come with being severely overweight. Not only can it make you less mobile, but you could be at risk of diabetes, cancer and other health conditions that can be preventable through living a healthier lifestyle. 

A healthy diet and physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and bring a load of other health benefits too.

You’ve got dental pain

Dental pain is one of those pains that very rarely gets better on its own. While there aren’t many people who enjoy going to the dentist, you should make an appointment whenever you’re experiencing a problem with your teeth and gums.

Toothache can happen for a lot of reasons, but you should keep an eye out for symptoms of an infection or signs you need a root canal as these can become serious very quickly. An appointment with the dentist will leave you feeling much better, and is never as bad as you expect it to be.

You’re unfit

Do you find yourself panting at the top of the stairs, or find it difficult to light heavy objects like you used to? There are a lot of warning signs that you could be unfit, such as shortness of breath or aching muscles from light activity. You shouldn’t shrug these off casually, instead use them as motivation to help you get fitter. Setting a challenge to feel less breathless when climbing the stairs or to lift things with ease are some realistic goals you can stick with to help you feel healthier and more confident. 

If the prospect of improving your fitness sounds daunting, you could enlist a friend to get fit with you, or even get fit as a family!

You’ve got unexplained aches and pains

Many aches and pains have a cause that’s easy to identify. Did you overdo it at the gym? Did you sleep awkwardly? These are common causes of different aches. If, however, there’s no easy explanation for your pain, or you’re finding it difficult to manage, you should seek medical attention. Some injuries can develop over time, but the sooner you get them looked at, the sooner you can get the help you need to treat the cause.

Your mental health isn’t where it should be

We’re always so focused on our physical health that it can be easy to forget about our mental health. There are a lot of different factors that can lead to a decline in your mental health, including a development in your personal life, stress at work or concerns about your circumstances. Even the most resilient of people can suffer mental health issues, so if you feel as though something isn’t right, you should speak to someone about it.

Understanding some of the signs of a mental health issue can help you work out if it’s time to seek help. Pay attention to how you’re feeling and how it impacts the rest of your health – there could be some clear signs that you need to take a step back and get some help. In the same way you focus on improving your physical health, remember to attend to your mental health too. Enjoy plenty of time to yourself and remember to take a break. Life gets very busy, but you owe it yourself to protect your wellbeing. 

When you’re busy taking care of your family and juggling work, it’s easy to forget about yourself. Stay on top of your health by maintaining good habits and to pay attention to signs of a problem. Most niggles are nothing to worry about, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. The more in-tune you are with yourself, the easier it will be to recognize when something isn’t right.