3 Health Issues You Shouldn’t Ignore

Do you think, if asked right now, you could pinpoint the moment in your life when health issues started effecting, and in turn, evolving into a part of your everyday life? Maybe you were 23 years old when you realized that pepperoni pizza fought back (as well as your mom’s amazing spaghetti and meatballs). No? Just me?

OK, that might be getting a little too specific, but it’s likely there are some health issues disrupting your day to day. Maybe you aren’t even really aware of a condition’s presence; something like blurry vision, for example, can be written off as simply being tired. However, there’s a chance that the health issues you’re struggling with have a name and really should be addressed.

If you are having to cancel plans and regularly take sick days at work, your health struggles are probably not as ordinary as you thought.  Luckily, there is relief out there, and you’re probably closer to ending the painful cycle than you think.

Is It Pizza? Or Something More?

Typical heartburn symptoms can usually be treated with general dietary and lifestyle changes. However, if your heartburn isn’t typical, a change in diet is likely not working for you.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a health issue that affects around 20 percent of the U.S. population. GERD symptoms can include: heartburn, chest pain, persistent cough, trouble sleeping, and even dental problems including erosion and gum disease — not exactly a little heartburn after dinner.

As such, making an appointment with a gastroenterologist or surgeon that specializes in GERD diagnosis and treatment is the best approach to managing acid reflux disease. These specialists can give you a better idea of what’s going on, and if you continually deal with the painful symptoms of GERD, they’ll likely recommend acid reflux surgery or medication. The procedure is quick and typically has a short recovery time too, which means no more symptoms waking you up in the middle of the night or interrupting a first date! And of course, more room for pizza.

Maybe It’s Not Just Blurry Vision

You might be spending more and more time in front of a computer screen these days or perhaps you have been lacking quality sleep time. These could be some common, albeit annoying, explanations as to why your vision has been a bit blurry lately. However, if you have noticed that your former 20/20 vision has completely abandoned you, regardless of enough sleep or not, it might be something more serious at play. Cataracts typically begin forming around age 40 and can cloud the lens inside your eye, causing your vision to blur. Furthermore, they will often go unnoticed until a doctor discovers them during an exam.

However, early detection is key!

It’s understable that you might not be familiar with the warning signs of cataracts if you’ve never had to deal with them before. Luckily, there are a few key signs that doctors at KE Eye Center recommend you lookout for:

• Blurred, foggy vision
• Increased eye strain
• Inability to see smaller print
• More light required to read
• Problems with glare
• Color sensitivity; some colors appear faded
• Frequent changes in prescription
• Difficulty with night driving due to glaring lights

To be fair, a lot of these symptoms can appear like ordinary aspects of life — we age, we stare at phone and computer screens all day, our eyes get dry and fatigued. It’s easy to attribute poor eyesight on a number of factors, but if it’s a persistent issue, and especially if you’re over the age of 40, it’d be worth visiting you eye doctor for an exam. And don’t panic if you doctor does in fact find cataracts — the surgery to clear them is a fairly simple procedure and most patients are back to their regular schedules a day or two after surgery.

Don’t Ignore Warning Signs

I’m not here to remind you of that awkward (and less than helpful) lecture you had in school about safe sex however many years ago. That being said, I AM here to remind you that in order to enjoy a healthy, active sex life, it’s important to stay informed and aware of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While that school lecture may have taught you some valuable safe sex practices, it’s likely it didn’t cover all the vital components.

STIs exhibit different symptoms so you may not be familiar with all the symptoms of an STI. Generally, herpes, syphilis, and HPV symptoms appear as new lumps and bumps, sometimes even swollen lymph nodes, whereas gonorrhea and other STIs like chlamydia and trichomoniasis are associated with genital or abdominal pain.

STIs can become extremely painful if left untreated and so it’s imperative to be open and honest with your doctor. They’ll take a blood or urine sample and provide you with the best course of action so that you can get back to feeling like yourself again. Most STIs can be treated fairly quickly, so don’t disregard any changes with your body! After all, you know your body better than anyone else, so it’s up to you to be your own advocate.

Feeling regularly uncomfortable — physically, spiritually, and mentally — can interfere with various facets of life. Luckily, the healthcare world is starting to become more effectual at recognizing and correcting our problematic issues, so it’s worth reaching out to your doctor or a specialist the next your body tells you something isn’t quite right. No doubt, your future self will thank you.