Juggling a professional career with family commitments and a social life is difficult. It also makes time limited when it comes to other aspects of daily living, such as going to the doctors if any symptoms crop up.
In fact, research from Ovarian Cancer Action suggests more than a quarter of females prioritize their career over scheduling a doctor’s appointment. However, it goes without saying that anyone who does this is walking a dangerous tightrope.
From a change in urine color to feeling weak, here are various symptoms — some of which are easy to overlook — you should never be too busy to ignore:
1. Unexplained Bowel Habit Changes
It’s not something people like to talk or even think about, yet a notable change in your bowel movements can be a sign of serious underlying problems. Some bowel-related symptoms to keep in mind are as follows:
- Constipation which lasts longer than one week
- Severe diarrhea that lasts longer than two days
- Normal diarrhea that sticks around for a week or longer
- Stool which has a black or tar-colored appearance
- The constant urge to need a bowel movement, even if inexplicable
- The sight of blood
While a change in regular bowel habits could be down to something relatively minor as food intolerance, it could also be a serious concern such as pancreatic or ovarian cancer.
2. Unexplained Urine Habit Changes
One bodily waste has already been covered, so it’s time to focus on the other main one. A change in your urine can be a sign of ill health. These changes can include:
- A burning sensation when emptying the bladder
- A change in the color and smell of the urine
- An intense or frequent impulse to urinate, but little is produced when doing so
- Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen or back
- Involuntary urine loss
- The sight of blood
Sadly, most people during their lifetime will suffer with a urinary issue of some kind. The main problem is a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is more prevalent in women than men. Thankfully, UTI treatment is usually straightforward — if it’s caught early. If not, it could lead to serious kidney infections.
3. Blood Making an Unexpected Appearance
Blood typically isn’t something anyone wants to see, although women know it is part of the package when going through the monthly menstrual cycle. However, there can be unusual signs of vaginal bleeding that should never be ignored. This also includes other unexpected appearances of blood, such as when it is coughed up, or appearing in the stool/urine. Here are examples of symptoms:
- Heavy bleeding in general
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Bleeding or spotting post-menopause
- Pain and bleeding during intercourse
Abnormal bleeding can be down to numerous different causes. For those over the age of 40, it can be simply a sign of perimenopause. Bleeding during the ovulation process is also standard for some women. With that said, sightings of blood could also be signs of everything from pelvic inflammatory disease to cervical cancer.
Taking care of your health should never be optional. Talk to your doctor and make your health a priority along with, not in spite of, your career.
