A healthy lifestyle is achieved with a positive mind, physically fit body, and emotionally strong sense. However, a problem in any of these factors can warn us into a deeper problem. A person is entitled to be unhealthy when diagnosed with a disease. Cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, and cholesterol are some diseases we frequently encounter. These diagnoses change the way we live our life. With these conditions, we begin to include changes in our diet, sleep patterns and even make physical activity an important part of our lives.
Our body gives us warning signs much before getting to know about having been diagnosed with these diseases. However, we often seek them as normal conditions and pay little attention to their root cause. So you may get away with gassiness, bloated stomach, or hyperacidity thinking it will pass. But these minute problems can call for a larger problem which you may not be able to solve in the future. So note these seven signs that point out to an unhealthy living and change your lifestyle today.
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Low On Energy
It’s normal to feel tired after a long day. But waking up in the morning and feeling tired is a sign that something is wrong. You get into a constant fatigue condition where you have low energy to conduct daily activities with lowered motivation.
This fatigue is normal during intense physical exercise, sleep deprivation, or even during long hours of boredom. However, feeling tired all the time can be a warning to several conditions. One such condition is anemia. In this condition, a person’s hemoglobin is below the standard. Because hemoglobin transports oxygen to all the body cells, low hemoglobin indicates lower oxygen supplies to the body, thereby creating lethargy and fatigue.
Sleep Deprivation
A normal person needs 8 hours of sleep. However, this pattern can range from 6 to 8 hours. Anything lower than six or higher than eight will make your body feel inactive. Cortisol is a hormone that declines at night. It is a stress hormone that shouldn’t bother you at night hours for you to have a sound sleep. However, stress can cause this hormone to remain at a peak, making you sleep deprived.
In addition, stress can call for irrational thoughts and feelings that will, in turn, increase adrenaline, a hormone produced during danger. Overthinking will further increase your heart rate, cause palpitations and make you feel anxious. All these symptoms together make up anxiety which can be generalized, making you feel terrible about yourself. So if you stay up all night feeling restless, you need to seek a piece of medical advice because your mental health can be at stake. Remember, you can solve problems related to mental health. All you need is self-confidence and the right support.
Hypertension
An increase in blood pressure is a silent killer that will put your life at risk. Hypertension can be due to numerous conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, heart-related problems, or kidney problems. Sleep apnea is another condition that is a cause of an unexplained increase in blood pressure, usually at night. When an individual is in a deep sleep, blood flow to the brain gets restricted in this condition.
Hence, oxygen supply reduces, making the heart pump blood with greater pressure. If the pressure moves above the threshold, then it can cause the arteries to rupture, causing a stroke while in sleep. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with hypertension, make sure to take your medications regularly and visit the medical professional for routine checkups.
You Feel Bloated
No matter how good a diet you follow with fiber and greens, you always end up bloated. You may have even tried regular walks, hot water after meals, and home remedies to get away with the bloating, but it doesn’t help. Even if your bowel movements are fine, you may still end up bloated. Did you know that our gut maintains a healthy immune system?
If your gut is healthy, then the 70% job of being healthy overall is successful. Obvious reasons for a bloated stomach can be due to digestive system problems such as constipation, acidity, gas, or even overeating. But if you experience bloating without these reasons, then it’s a call for you to talk to your MD. Serious health conditions related to bloating can include stomach infection, inflammation, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms can last for more than 12 hours and can cause severe pain.
Bad Breath
Halitosis is also commonly known as bad breath. A study published in 2018 in the Open Dentistry Journal reveals that bad breath results from swollen gums, dental referrals, tooth decay, and gum diseases, causing your breath to give out a bad odor. The major culprit for this odor is the mouth bacteria that resides in your buccal cavity.
Apart from this, other factors such as dry mouth, periodontitis, and gingivitis can also cause halitosis. Such a situation can be embarrassing, especially when you are around the workplace. In addition, some silent causes of this condition can be tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal problems. Hence, even after you are thorough with brushing and flossing, the foul odor doesn’t subside, you ought to meet the dentist.
Frequent Headaches
Headaches are the most common form of pain and are mostly harmless. However, conditions like migraines, sinusitis, cold and flu, and weak eyesight can give headaches that are considered normal under these conditions. But with the required medication and support, you need to find a way to curb these moderate to vigorous headaches. Apart from these conditions, stress, overthinking, and anxiety can also take a toll on your mental health. However, suppose you do not suffer from the above conditions and yet suffer from headaches accompanied by a stiff neck, convulsions, confusion, and blurry eyesight; in that case, you need to book an appointment with the doctor.
Unexplained Weight Loss And Weight Gain
To the ones struggling hard through diet and vigorous physical exercise, shedding some pounds is a milestone. However, if you are losing weight without any reason, then it is a subject of concern. This unexplained weight loss can be a reason for underlying severe and chronic causes such as malnutrition, muscle loss, cancer, and hyperthyroidism.
On the other hand, weight gain can be alarming if you are consistent with your diet and physical exercise. But suppose you are on medications related to diabetes, PCOD, birth control, and pills related to schizophrenia or bipolar disorders; in that case, these drugs can increase your metabolism rate, causing you to gain weight. A gradual change in your diet may reflect on your weight causing it to fluctuate. However, if you notice a sudden gain or loss, you need to consider this change and find its root cause.
The Bottom Line!
These were some of the minute changes that we may observe in our routine lives. But unfortunately, we do not make it a point to introspect on them. Mostly because of our fast and hectic lifestyle. A piece of advice would be to take efficient care of your mental, emotional and physical health. We may focus more on the physique; perhaps we have to.
According to the guidelines, a normal individual needs to engage in 45 minutes of physical exercise at least three times a week. Sometimes, life has a different motive for us. We may try our best to be in the best shape, but unprecedented conditions can knock on our door. We can’t help ourselves in these times, but we should try our best when we can.
