Our Body's 'Small Signals' Indicating a 'Serious Illness' [Lee Jin-kyung's Health Tips]

Early Warning Signs That Can Detect Various 'Am' and Depression in Advance

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-kyung Lee] Most people often overlook or ignore the abnormal health signals they feel until the illness worsens, barely recognizing the problem. When they finally notice unusual symptoms and visit a hospital, the disease may have already progressed significantly, making treatment difficult. Therefore, it is very important to always pay attention to your body and carefully observe it to quickly recognize and respond to abnormal symptoms and signals. So, it is essential to remember which diseases show which early warning signs. Let's take a moment to learn about early symptoms that can easily be overlooked and reflect on your health condition.

[Frequent Symptoms in Daily Life Could Be Signs of Serious Diseases?]

1. Stomach Cancer

● Early Symptoms → ‘Indigestion, loss of appetite, anemia, weight loss, upper abdominal discomfort, abdominal bloating’

Many cases involve simply ignoring symptoms like indigestion or bloating, leading to abdominal pain and discomfort that worsen the condition. Stomach cancer is especially difficult to detect early, so caution is necessary.

▶ Symptom Check!

□ Persistent indigestion and recurrent heartburn

□ Continuous loss of appetite, weight loss, and anemia

□ Vomiting, hematemesis due to bleeding, or bloody stools

□ Feeling of discomfort and bloating in the upper abdomen

□ Body aches and pain, difficulty swallowing food

□ Feeling a lump in the abdomen and palpable lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity

2. Stroke

● Early Symptoms - ‘Facial paralysis, numbness in hands and feet, dizziness, vomiting, eyelid twitching’

Stroke is more dangerous in winter than other seasons and may present symptoms such as eyelid twitching and numbness in hands and feet. If these symptoms appear, do not overlook them as they can rapidly worsen; visit a hospital immediately.

▶ Symptom Check!

□ Sometimes hearing is impaired and tinnitus occurs

□ Facial nerve paralysis or frequent facial twitching and eyelid spasms

□ One side of the face feels numb, and hands and feet often feel numb and weak

□ Persistent headaches without cause, occasional chest pain, and shortness of breath

□ Frequently irritable or suspicious, with noticeable personality changes

□ Difficulty maintaining balance and dizziness

□ Double vision and frequent nausea

□ Stiff neck and frequent heavy head sensation

□ Severe forgetfulness and frequent feelings of mental dullness

□ Often weak grip causing dropped objects, shaky and unsteady legs

□ Sudden stuttering, slowed speech, and tongue seeming stiff and uncooperative

□ Long-term history of hypertension or diabetes

3. Lung Cancer

● Early Symptoms - ‘Frequent coughing, sputum mixed with blood’

In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are minimal, but as the disease progresses, symptoms similar to a common cold such as frequent coughing and sputum may appear, making diagnosis difficult and easy to overlook.

▶ Symptom Check!

□ Frequent coughing with sputum or hemoptysis containing red blood

□ Occasional difficulty breathing and protruding veins in the chest

□ Chest pain and hoarseness

□ Symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and loss of appetite

□ Bone pain and fractures without significant trauma

4. Colorectal Cancer

● Early Symptoms - ‘Changes in bowel habits, diarrhea, constipation, bloody or mucous stools’

Initially, there may be no symptoms, and by the time symptoms are noticed, the disease may have progressed considerably. Changes in bowel habits are often overlooked, so it is important to carefully check for abnormal symptoms.

▶ Symptom Check!

□ Changes in bowel habits

□ Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling of incomplete evacuation after bowel movements

□ Bloody or mucous stools

□ Thinner stool diameter than before

□ Frequent abdominal pain and bloating

□ Frequent fatigue

□ Loss of appetite and indigestion

□ Frequent nausea and vomiting

□ Presence of lumps in the abdomen

5. Liver Cancer

● Early Symptoms - ‘Abdominal pain and palpable mass, abdominal bloating, weight loss, indigestion, extreme fatigue’

Liver cancer mostly occurs in association with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. The liver is called the ‘silent organ’ because symptoms appear late, and it is often detected only after becoming chronic. If abnormal symptoms are felt, it is important to quickly consult a specialist.

▶ Symptom Check!

□ Pain in the upper abdomen

□ Palpable mass in the abdomen

□ Frequent severe fatigue

□ Poor digestion and weight loss

[Minor Symptoms That Are Easy to Miss Could Signal Various Diseases?]

■ Asthma

If you experience severe shortness of breath and wheezing sounds when breathing even without excessive exercise, it may indicate asthma. If symptoms of breathing difficulty, a major sign of asthma, occur frequently, the condition may have progressed, so prompt diagnosis by a specialist is necessary. Taking symptom relievers and disease controllers as prescribed can help alleviate these symptoms.

■ Sleep Apnea

If you snore heavily during sleep and occasionally experience brief breathing pauses, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes sleep disturbances, making sleep unrefreshing and causing daytime fatigue that interferes with daily life. Therefore, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are advisable. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea over a long period can lead to arrhythmia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and lung diseases, so caution is required.

■ Depression

Common symptoms of depression include fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of sleep, and headaches. If these symptoms suddenly appear and persist, it is necessary to get a diagnosis from a specialist to determine if depression is the cause. Finding ways to relieve accumulated stress and consistently receiving treatment and counseling greatly help alleviate depression, so do not ignore symptoms and visit a hospital.

■ Tonsillitis

Does your throat hurt every time you swallow? If accompanied by high fever and chills, it may be tonsillitis. Tonsillitis presents various symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and joint pain, which can easily be mistaken for a common cold or flu, so caution is needed. Especially if thick, sticky mucus appears on the tongue surface or inside the mouth, tonsillitis is suspected. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment and prescription are important before the condition worsens.