8 early signs of serious disease

August 29, 2015  11:58

Serious health problems often start with subtle, minor symptoms that most people dismiss. But the key to getting an early diagnosis and increasing the chances for a cure is knowing which changes to look for, says Pat Salber, M.D., a board certified internist in San Francisco (thedoctorweighsin.com).

Here are eight subtle symptoms that can be a sign of something serious: 

1. Stiffness that doesn’t go away.

Many people feel a bit stiff or slow when they first get out of bed in the morning, but as they get up and move around they get back to normal. 

When stiffness or slowness persist, it could be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease. Other Parkinson’s signs can be changes in walking patterns – your arms don’t swing like they used to or you have trouble starting to walk because you feet feel like they are stuck to the floor. 

Changes in your voice, such as speaking softly when you don’t mean to, is another early sign. 

2. A white spot on your tongue or other parts of your mouth that doesn’t go away.

Thickened white spots that can’t be scraped off are called leukoplakia. Although most are benign, sometimes these lesions can be early signs of oral cancer, particularly among smokers. 

You should see your doctor or dentist to determine if a biopsy is needed. 

3. A lump or bump on the eyelid that doesn’t go away.

Although there are many different types of lumps or bumps that can occur on the eyelid, you don’t want to ignore them because sometimes they turn out to be a skin cancer.

The eyelid area is a common area for non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas to develop. The early appearance of an eyelid cancer can be subtle and not clearly suggestive of a cancer. 

If you have a lesion on your eyelid that doesn’t go away, get it checked out by a dermatologist or your general practitioner.

4. Unexplained weight loss.

Sudden, unexplained weight loss (more than 5 percent of body weight) can be a sign of a wide variety of health issues including dental problems, gastrointestinal disorders, overactive thyroid, diabetes, chronic infections, depression, substance abuse, and cancer. 
Unexplained weight loss should always be evaluated by a primary care physician.

5. Bronzing of the skin.

If people say you look tan but you haven’t been in the sun, you may have a condition known as hereditary hemochromatosis – particularly if you are a middle-aged man. 

This is a genetic disorder associated with an overload of iron in the body. 

When the excess iron is stored in the skin, it can take on a bronze hue. 

Iron deposits in the pancreas can cause diabetes and in the liver, cirrhosis. 

6. Blurry vision.

Sudden blurry vision is a common, but little-known symptom of diabetes that occurs when blood sugar levels cause the eye lens to swell. 

If you develop blurred vision, especially if it occurs rapidly, don’t just get new glasses, be sure you get a simple blood test to see if you have diabetes. If that turns out to be the problem, your blurred vision will clear up once you blood sugar returns to normal.

7. Increasing trouble recalling the names of objects.


Many of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can occur occasionally in people without the disease. 

Who hasn’t had trouble remembering the name of something now and then? 

But in people with Alzheimer’s, the problem increases and it is persistent. They have trouble following or joining a conversation. 

They can’t find words and may resort to calling things by a related but incorrect name. For example, they may call a watch a “hand-clock.”

8. The whites of eyes aren’t white.

The white of the eyes, the sclera, can change color in the face of systemic disorders. 

One of the more common changes is when they turn yellow because of jaundice. 

Jaundice occurs when the bilirubin builds up in the body, most often as a result of liver disease or blockage of the biliary ducts. 

Sometimes the change in color is so subtle that you won’t notice it, but your family or friends do. 

If your whites turn yellow, you should see your doctor.

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