12 Signs You’re Not Healthy (Even If You Think You Are)

…Am I healthy or not? This question may be running through your head from time to time.

It might come as a surprise, but there is an actual difference between thinking that you are healthy and genuinely BEING healthy. You can workout for an hour a few times a week, drink at least 8 glasses of water in a day, floss every night, get to bed early, and wake up without hitting the snooze button, but still, you might be experiencing some symptoms that make you suffer without even knowing it.

But as we continue to live and face the global problems that occur and our hectic lives as well, maintaining our health is one of the most important things we can do at the moment.

With that being said, it is time to talk about some less evident signs that could point out that there is something serious going on. When it comes to your health, you have to be educated and aware of your symptoms!

And because we want to keep you informed, here are 12 signs you’re not healthy (even if you think you are)!

1. You have swollen ankles 

As you might know already, it is perfectly normal for your ankles to get swollen after a long flight or much time spent in the car. However, if your ankles and feet feel uncomfortable every day, it might be a sign that there is something happening in your body.

In conformity with a cardiologist named Joshua S. Yamamoto, the fact that your ankles are swollen can be the result of the fact that your heart might not be functioning properly.

As the MD said, a heart that doesn’t do its job the way it is supposed to can have trouble circulating blood adequately. If your ankles are inflamed all the time, now is the time to make an appointment with the doctor!

2. You experience discomfort behind the eyes 

Ming Wang, MD, Ph.D., of the Wang Vision Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, stated that the pain that people might be feeling behind their eyes can actually be a sign of a sinus infection.

As the doctor explained, the sinuses are situated below, above, and next to the eyes. When these zones accumulate a lot of pressure, it can cause pain that feels like it’s coming from around the eye area, but the starting point is actually the sinuses.

3. You have dry eyes

There are many people who are used to having dry eyes, especially those who suffer from allergies. Unfortunately, there are other reasons why your eyes can be dry, regardless of these issues, such as hepatitis C.

According to a study from 2007, that was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, it has been found that 50% of the people diagnosed with this disease had minimized tear production.

…It might be time for a quick check-up!

4. Your neck is in pain

Even though you might not feel this at first, staying in a hunched position at your desk can cause you tight muscle knots, neck and back pain, as Leon Turetsky, a certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist from Boston explains.

In order to prevent and minimize these symptoms remember to sit up straight or even get a standing desk. This way, you will be able to get off your feet from time to time and be more mindful about the correct position when sitting.

5. You have indigestion 

Another sign that might make you wonder if you are actually healthy or not is indigestion. Usually, this happens after you’ve eaten a big meal or something you might be allergic or intolerant to.

Peter Bidey, DO, assistant professor and vice-chair of family medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, said that indigestion can be a premier sign of cardiac or other gastrointestinal issues. The expert recommends going to a specialist if the symptoms don’t disappear after taking medications.

6. You snore 

As annoying and uncomfortable as snoring can be, it can also be a sign of a problem called obstructive sleep apnea. Not everyone who snores might be infected with this health issue, but if snoring is accompanied by breathing pauses during sleep, choking or gasping at night, high blood pressure, morning migraines, trouble focusing, or chest pain at night, it is better to talk to a specialist.

7. Your hair is falling out more than usual 

Even though it is normal to lose a few hairs daily, especially when you brush your hair. But if your hair is falling more than usual, it might be a sign that you don’t have enough protein in your diet.

In conformity with Amanda Sylvie, a registered dietitian with Wellnicity, if you don’t do something about it, this problem can lead to something more serious. For example, as as a weak immune system and chronic fatigue.

You can increase your protein intake by eating lean meats, salmon, tuna, cottage cheese, yogurt, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, tempeh, and many other foods.

8. You’re feeling nauseous 

Many people tend to associate feeling nauseous with eating something bad, or with nerves in general. You shouldn’t ignore this symptom, because it might be a sign of Parkinson’s disease, as researchers from the Parkinson’s Foundation stated.

In addition to that, there are also other symptoms that can be linked with this health condition, such as constipation and experiencing difficulty swallowing.

9. You have hoarseness

If you went to a concert or at a sports event when you’ve sung or shouted with every inch of your lungs, it is not that uncommon to have a sore throat or a hoarse voice the following day.

However, if suddenly your voice doesn’t sound the same, it might be an indicator of vocal cord cancer, as is stated by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

10. You’re losing weight drastically 

There is nothing weird with losing a few pounds when being thinner is your goal, but if you experience severe weight loss that you can’t control, it might be because there are some hidden health problems.

In conformity with cardiologist Joshua S. Yamamoto, this might be a sign of cancer, diabetes, and even heart failure.

11. You have difficulties driving at night 

We all know that driving when it’s pitch black outside is harder than driving in the middle of the day. On the other hand, if you drive shortly after the sun has set and you have troubles with that, it might be a sign of an early eye problem.

According to Ming Wang, MD, Ph.D., of the Wang Vision Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, if people have troubles with glare, halos, and dim light, they need to go to an ophthalmologist, to indicate if they need to have cataract surgery or not.

12. Your eyes have different colors

We are not talking about blue eyes turning brown, but if you observe that there are yellow parts on the white areas, it might be a sign of other health issues, such as gallbladder, liver, and pancreas problems.

TAKEAWAY 

To sum up this article, we can say that you have to be very mindful of everything that happens to your body, whether it is sudden weight loss, rashes, fatigue, irregular bowel movements, changes in the eyes, feeling nauseous, and so many other symptoms.

Have you ever felt any of these? If yes, have you gone to get treatment?

If you think that you have a few tips for our readers, feel free to leave them in the comments section down below!

For other health-related topics, make sure to check out our website: https://healthyreads.com/!