T.J. Samson | Destination Health | April 2020

April 2020 5 Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Cancer Society; American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; American Lung Association; American Stroke Association; American Thyroid Foundation; Chest Foundation; National Institutes of Health; UpToDate Puffy lower legs, ankles or feet may be symptoms of congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart can’t pump as much blood as the body needs. When this happens, blood backs up in other areas of the body, causing fluid to accumulate elsewhere, especially in the legs. A swollen leg, or swelling along a vein in the leg, may also be a red flag of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), especially if the swollen area is warm, red or painful. DVT is a blood clot in a vein deep in the body. And while one can form anywhere, they’re espe- cially likely to develop in the lower leg or thigh. A clot that breaks off can travel through the bloodstream and block an artery in the lungs—a life-threatening complication. If there’s any chance you have a DVT, call your doctor right away. This is different from normal drows- iness or the need to nod off. It’s a lack of energy and even motivation. When steps such as getting enough sleep or good nutrition don’t relieve it, fatigue may be a sign of anemia, depression, a thyroid gland that is overactive or under- active, or a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. It may also be an early warning sign of some cancers, such as leukemia. A cough that doesn’t disappear can have several causes. Among the worrisome ones: Chronic obstructive pulmo- nary disease. Coughing up phlegm, coupled with shortness of breath, may be a sign of this serious, and progressive, lung disease that mostly affects current or former smokers. Lung cancer. A nagging cough may indicate a cancer that started in the lungs or has spread there from other organs. You may cough up blood or rust-colored spit. Asthma. A dry, sporadic cough— especially early in the morning or at night—could be a sign of this lung disease that makes your airways overly sensitive. You may also cough in response to certain triggers, such as dust, pollen or a furry pet. Cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid gland. Hoarseness that doesn’t improve could be a sign. This could be a warning of diabe- tes. It may suggest type 2, the most common kind of diabetes, which comes on so slowly many people don’t know they have it. Or it might indicate type 1 diabetes, which has symptoms that happen suddenly. In either case, feeling very thirsty often goes hand-in-hand with needing to go the bathroom a lot. That’s because your body tries to get rid of the extra sugar building up in your blood by making you urinate frequently. Bright red rectal bleeding may be a sign of colon cancer. But don’t panic: Seeing a small amount of blood after you wipe, or in your stool or in the toilet, is often caused by hemorrhoids or a tear in the lin- ing of the anus. Still, do tell your doctor. Bloody or dark stools may also indicate an ulcer, so there’s an- other reason to speak up. Blood in your urine may be a sign of bladder, prostate or kidney cancer. And if you’re a woman, look out for abnormal vaginal bleeding— for example, spotting between peri- ods, bleeding after reaching meno- pause or bleeding after sex.There can be many causes for such bleed- ing, and most are not serious. But it also may be a symptom of a repro- ductive cancer, such as cervical or endometrial cancers. Bloody discharge from a nipple may also be a red flag of breast cancer. Fitting into jeans that once were snug might seem like a gift. But losing 10 or more pounds for no clear reason could be a sign of cancer—most often a cancer of the pancreas, esophagus, stomach or lung. Unexplained weight loss can also be a tipoff of an overactive thyroid, which means your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. Women, especially those older than 60, are particularly prone to this condition. Diagno- sis is critical since, if not treated, a revved-up thyroid can cause: ●  ● An irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure. ●  ● Double vision, light sensitivity and eye pain. ●  ● Bone thinning. That’s short for transient ischemic attack, which you may know as a mini-stroke. Like most full-blown strokes, a TIA happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. But the blockage doesn’t last long. As a re- sult, TIA symptoms—which are the same as those of a major stroke— typically only last a few minutes. They include sudden: ●  ● Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. ●  ● Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. ●  ● Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. ●  ● Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. ●  ● Severe headache with no known cause. Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms, no matter how fleeting. A TIA is a medical emergency— you need to be evaluated. While it doesn’t cause permanent damage, a TIA often signals that a true stroke is coming. Think of a TIA as both a warning that you’re at risk for a stroke and an opportunity to work with your doctor to prevent one. A primary care physician (PCP) can help determine if any symptoms are serious. Don’t have a PCP? Call 270-651-1111 , and we’ll find one for you. 1 2 3 4 6 7 5 PERSISTENT FATIGUE SURPRISE WEIGHT LOSS RED FLAGS OF A TIA UNUSUAL BLEEDING A LINGERING COUGH OR HOARSENESS EXCESSIVE THIRST SWELLING IN YOUR LEGS