How to Read Your Body’s Signs – PART 2

Posted on: January 30th, 2019 in Mindset by Pat Mesiti | No Comments

Do you remember that 1988 song by Swedish band, Roxette? The lyrics go “Listen to your heart when it’s calling for you, Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do”. Today I’m going to argue that you need to listen to your body and pay attention to the early warning signs of disease. Believe me, a stich in time saves nine, meaning it’s better to face symptoms, see a doctor and be cured, rather than wait until you are really, really sick and then undergo painful treatments.

In my last blog I dealt with a biggy – cancer – I’m also going to start this blog with another biggy – heart attacks.

What are the warning signs of a heart attack?

Pain or discomfort in the chest

Look out for pain in the centre of the chest that lasts for a few minutes. This may feel like discomfort, indigestion, pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Experience any of these and you need to seek medical attention for a suspected heart attack.

Discomfort in the upper body

You may have pain in one or both arms. You may also feel an inexplicable discomfort in the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Again, take action. Remember he who hesitates is lost.

Shortness of breath

You may not be suffering any pain but instead have shortness of breath. I’m afraid this is another symptom of heart attack.

More heart attack symptoms

Cold sweats, nausea and light-headedness are also heart attack warning signs. The most common symptom of heart attack in both men and women is chest pain however women are a little more likely to have other symptoms, like shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

If you suspect you or someone near you is having a heart attack, immediately call emergency. They will tell you what to do or send an ambulance. How often do I need to say it? It’s better to be safe than sorry! Every minute matters in the case of suspected heart attacks. Don’t delay.

Celiac disease

People with an itchy, blistering skin rash on the elbows, knees, bottom, back, or scalp often think they have eczema, however it can also indicate celiac disease, an autoimmune condition. People with celiac disease cannot eat gluten. It attacks their intestines. Up to a quarter with celiac disease get a rash but don’t have digestive symptoms. Three-quarter of sufferers get upset stomachs and bloating. Once people with celiac disease begin a gluten-free diet, the rash should disappear, or their stomach will settle down.

Blurry vision

Do you get tired eyes and blurry vision? If you sometimes can’t see well or read signs, you could have astigmatism or short-sightedness. Astigmatism is a condition where the power of the eye varies depending on the angle of light going into it. Astigmatism produces blurred vision at all distances. It is usually due to the shape of the cornea. Short-sightedness (or myopia), is an eye disorder where light focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. This causes distant objects to be blurry while close objects appear normal. If you experience blurry vision see your optometrist. 

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the thickness of the bowel wall, and other parts of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Some people mistakenly believe they just have haemorrhoids as sores, ulcerations, and fleshy growths appear around the anus. If left untreated, Crohn’s disease can lead to bowel obstruction, painful fissures, and even colon cancer. If you think you have hemorrhoids and they aren’t responding to treatment, see a doctor and ask about the possibility of Crohn’s disease. The doctor can do a blood test to check your white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and other markers indicating disease.

Parkinson’s disease

Have you noticed that your handwriting is getting worst or that it is shrinking? One of the earliest symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is changes to handwriting. A 2013 Israeli study found writing analysis identified patients in early stages more than 97 percent of the time. Parkinson’s disease is caused by nerve cells in the brain become damaged or dying. They then stop producing dopamine, a chemical that sends signals to nerves to move. This causes muscle stiffness in hands and fingers. Other Parkinson’s symptoms include a loss of the sense of smell and dreams causing you to thrash, kick and punch during sleep. If you notice any of these symptoms that last for more than a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor and even ask for a referral for a neurologist. 

Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears is common. In most cases, tinnitusis the result of too much time in noisy environments but it can also be caused by an underlying illness. Visit your doctor to make sure.

Diabetes

Some people with diabetes don’t notice their symptoms because they are so minor. They include: blurred vision, tiredness, urinating more often, thirst, numbness and tingling in the feet or legs, stubborn infections, hunger, cuts that are slow to heal, itching, blurred vision, weight gains and mood swings. If you have any of these symptoms ask your doctor about diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes get your blood sugar levels checked regularly. 

Thrush

If you have itchy ears, throat or mucus membranes (including the crotch) you may have candida overgrowth, often triggered by a diet high in sugar and yeast. A little yeast-like fungus in the gut is good when it is kept under control by healthy gut flora. But an intestinal imbalance can send it crazy and candida grows over everything in its path. Among its favourite environments are the body’s warm, dark moist places like between the toes, under the breasts and in the ears and crotch. As it infiltrates, it irritates and inflames the skin, causing extreme discomfort.

Remember: Bodies are like cars. They require regular servicing. 

ABOUT PAT MESITI

Pat Mesiti is a best-selling author, coach and educator in the area of personal development. Having built some of Australia’s largest people-driven organisations, Pat understands the power of harnessing human potential. He has shared the stage with some of the world’s great business minds and has sold over millions of copies of his books and materials.

 

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