Minor Symptoms, Major Trouble

Minor Symptoms Major Trouble

By Katherine Steinberg and Mary Kearl
Minor Symptoms, Major Trouble

You may think there's nothing to worry about if you have a lingering cough or you've been getting a lot of headaches lately. These symptoms, while seemingly minor, can indicate very serious conditions like lung cancer and brain tumors. Of course, sometimes a headache is just a headache. Read on to find out the 15 most startling minor symptoms that can signal major trouble.


Minor Symptom: Bruising or Bleeding Easily


Major Trouble: Abnormal bruising of the skin and bleeding from the gums or rectum may mean you have leukemia. In that case, the symptoms are usually accompanied by swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin. Anemia, or vitamin B12 deficiency, also causes you to bruise more easily. Not all bleeding and bruising should be cause for alarm: As the skin ages its defenses weaken and bruising and easy bleeding can follow.

Minor Symptom: Chronic Cough


Major Trouble: While you may simply have a bad case of the flu, a chronic cough could be an indicator of
lung cancer, or a chest infection, such as pleurisy or pneumonia. If the cough is accompanied by mucus or blood, then it may be tuberculosis. Find out when to call your doctor if you suspect you have lung cancer or TB.

Minor Symptom: Headaches


Major Trouble: We all get headaches from time to time, but if you are experiencing double vision and/or vomiting and nausea with your headache, it could be a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis. Headaches are also a symptom of high blood pressure. If you suspect that you have high blood pressure find out when it's time to call your doctor.

Minor Symptom: Discolored Mole


Major Trouble: You could be facing a battle with skin cancer if you notice your mole has changed shape, size or has an irregular shape. It's a smart idea to regularly examine your skin -- use a mirror for hard to see spots on your back and legs -- with special attention to areas that are often exposed to the sun. Go see your doctor to make sure that what you have isn't just a mild skin irritation. You should also have your moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch or appear scaly.

Minor Symptom: Hair Loss


Major Trouble: If you're losing hair in patches, in your eyebrows, eyelashes or scalp, it could be a sign of syphilis. Low thyroid levels caused by hypothyroidism can cause coarse and thinning hair. Look for other signs like fatigue, weight gain, depression, memory troubles, constipation, and/or dry skin or yellowish skin. Ringworm of the scalp (which appears as a bald ring) and other times of hormonal change, like pregnancy, birth control use, and menopause can also lead to hair loss. If you see hair loss in an atypical pattern, at an early age, or in rapid succession call your doctor.

Minor Symptom: Blood in Your Stool


Major Trouble: Blood, especially darker blood, could be colon cancer. If you suspect you have colon cancer, call your doctor. If the blood is bright red, or after a strained bowel movement, you may have diverticulitis or even just hemorrhoids. Any time there is blood in your stool, call your doctor.

Minor Symptom: Night Sweats


Major Trouble: Sweating at night is often a symptom of tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS or Hodgkin's disease, which is a lymphatic cancer. Menopause has been known to cause night sweats as well, but overall this is a serious symptom. Do something about it.

Minor Symptom: Chronic Fatigue

Major Trouble: You may think you're just tired, but often fatigue is a warning sign of depression and anxiety. Tiredness associated with depression could be accompanied by appetite change, restlessness, feelings of guilt and thoughts about suicide. You can test your level of depression here. Exhaustion associated with anxiety can include symptoms like twitching, trembling, breathlessness, lightheadedness or cold, clammy hands. You may also be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, which involves a level of tiredness that has lasted at least six months and does not improve with rest. Other symptoms include memory loss, confusion, sore throat, and muscle pain.

Minor Symptom: Sudden Muscle Weakness


Major Trouble: If your muscles suddenly give way, get weak, useless or if you suddenly have trouble balancing, standing or walking, you may have Parkinson's disease. Another possibility is that you've had a stroke. And don't forget, strokes can happen to young people too.