Don’t ignore these
Pay close attention to your body and you may catch some health problems early, while timely medical care can still make a difference.
Following are 10 symptoms you should never ignore, according to a report in the June issue of the Mayo Clinic Healthletter:
*Unexplained weight loss. It could point to conditions such as overactive thyroid, liver disease, cancer, malabsorption disorders or depression.
*Persistent fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for a week or more. It could signal a urinary-tract infection, malignant conditions or tuberculosis.
*Shortness of breath. Causes range from chronic bronchitis, heart problems, panic attacks and pneumonia to a blood clot in the lung or pulmonary hypertension.
*Unexplained change in bowel habits. It could result from a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection.
*New or more severe headaches, especially after age 50. Causes could include stroke, meningitis, brain tumor and aneurysm.
*Mental status changes, such as confused thinking, disorientation or sudden aggressive behavior. They may be due to infection, stroke, head injury and low blood sugar.
*Short-term loss of vision, speech or movement. It could be a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
*Flashes of light. This could signal a detached retina.
*Feeling full after eating very little. Causes could include gastrointestinal disorders, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer or ovarian cancer.
*Hot, red or swollen joint : Causes include a joint infection, gout or some types of arthritis.
Site for caregivers
RevolutionHealth.com is a terrific free Web site designed especially for caregivers to assess and track the health of their families.
Designed by Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, it offers highly reliable information gleaned from the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Columbia University Medical Center, Harvard Health Publications and numerous other organizations.
Besides information on the treatment and prevention of health conditions, the site offers advice for healthy living in general. “Mom Central,” for example, covers a wealth of specific hot topics for both stay-at-home and working moms.
One section of the site helps visitors assess their risk for specific diseases and determine how to lower them.
Another lets you check your health symptoms to see what’s ailing you. Yet another refers visitors to reliable doctors and other health-care providers and gives important information on drugs and treatments.
What cravings mean
If you crave certain foods, you may be lacking essential nutrients, minerals or fats, says Nan Kathryn Fuchs, author of “The Health Detective’s 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets,” in the June issue of Shape.
Here are some examples of desired foods and what they could signify:
*Chocolate: You may be lacking in heart-healthy magnesium, also found in cooked spinach and black beans.
*French fries: It’s time to add some healthy fatty acids to your diet. Better choices are olive oil and fish.
*Gummy bears: A need for sugary carbs says your body wants more energy. Get it through proteins such as lean meat, beans or fish.
*Salty pretzels: Stress hormones may increase your desire for salt, but what you need are B vitamins. Nosh on bananas or whole-grain crackers.
Hemp is good food
Hemp gets a bad rap because of its obvious connection to cannabis.
Yet foods fortified with hemp, which is similar to flax seed, are packed with heart-healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats and amino acids.
A large number of hemp-fortified foods can be found in health-food stores, says Marcia Mogelonsky of Mintel, a Chicago market-research firm, in the May/June issue of Eating Well. Look for breads, waffles and granola bars.
Besides being nutritious, hemp also tastes good, giving foods a nutty flavor and chewy texture.
