Are your clothes feeling looser than usual? Have you found yourself tightening your belt to the next notch? Have you lost weight unintentionally without changing your diet or exercise routine?
Losing weight without trying might even feel welcome, however, if it happens unexpectedly it can be a warning sign of something more serious. Unexplained weight loss can be linked to hormone conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes, digestive problems such as coeliac disease and certain cancers.
So, if you notice you are losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine, book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. A simple examination, set of blood tests or scans, can help to identify what’s going on and the earlier a cause is found, the sooner it can be treated.
If you notice blood anywhere it shouldn’t be, like in your stool or urine, it’s a red flag. It might be bright red blood on wiping, or dark red to black and tar-like mixed with your stool. Blood in your stool could be a sign of piles (haemorrhoids) or an anal fissure. However, it can also be a sign of bowel cancer. You might notice associated symptoms like a change in your bowel habit or persistent abdominal pain.
Blood in urine can be due to a urinary tract infection, kidney stones or an enlarged prostate in men. However, it can also be an early sign of bladder or kidney cancer.
Never ignore bleeding, even if it comes and goes or seems to get better. Book an appointment with your GP as it needs to be checked out. They may ask you to bring in a urine or stool sample or refer you for a scan or further tests to exclude anything serious.
3. A new lump or bump on your body
Many lumps are benign, such as simple cysts or lipomas (fatty lumps). But a new lump that’s growing, hard, fixed in place or painful should always be checked out. In particular, lumps in the breast, testicles, neck or armpits need prompt attention. They can be a sign of cancer or other conditions that need treatment. Are you familiar with checking these areas for lumps? It’s important to feel your body and know what’s normal for you, so that you can spot when something changes. Regular examination of these areas can help to identify any new lumps or bumps. Try to make it a monthly practice. If you find a lump, don’t panic: most lumps turn out to be harmless. But do see your GP as soon as possible so they can examine the lump and, if needed, refer you for a scan, a biopsy or to a specialist for further tests
4. A changing mole
If you have moles on your body, it’s a good idea to check them regularly. An easy way to do this is to photograph them at regular intervals. This allows you to objectively notice changes over time that you might not pick up otherwise. If you notice any changes such as increase in size, irregular shape, darker pigmentation, itching, crusting, bleeding or any new lesions, these are all red flags.
Book an appointment with your GP to get it assessed. It could be a sign of skin cancer and your GP can look at it with a dermatoscope or refer you to a dermatologist to review it.
5. A persistent cough
If you have a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks, especially if it is dry, getting worse or if you are coughing up blood – this needs checking out. A persistent cough may be a sign of asthma, other chronic lung conditions or cancer.
Book that appointment with your GP as soon as possible. They will be able to examine your chest, may take some blood tests or refer you for an X-ray or further tests to investigate. The earlier we identify any problem, the easier it is to treat.
If any of these changes sound familiar, don’t wait. Book an appointment with your GP and get it checked. Looking after your health now is the best gift you can give your future self. Watch more health advice from Dr Chintal on the new Good Health TikTok and Instagram channels, @GoodHealthByGoodFood.
