Watch Out For These Signs If You Are Above 40

Once you have crossed the 40 milestone, you must not ignore certain signs and symptoms that your body may give you as a warning of something bigger. You are busy with your juggling act of doing 10 things altogether and tend to pay scant attention to small telltale signs that your body may be giving you. Even if you do take notice, you may consider them trivial or no-big-deal, to warrant any special attention. But if you are informed about what those signs could really mean, you would make sure to visit your doctor at the first opportunity. As you get older, your body loses its power to stay immune to ailments and may become vulnerable and susceptible to health issues. Given below are signs that could mean more than what they appear to be.

You feel very tired with nausea, chills and perspiration

It is normal to presume that it is an attack of flu or some viral infection OR it could also mean a beginning of a heart attack, especially if these symptoms are accompanied by dizziness, pressure in the chest, pain in the chest, left arm, back or the upper abdomen. You should call the hospital right away and have an ambulance sent over or call your doctor for a preliminary first aid until the ambulance arrives. Heart issues can begin between ages 40 to 60, so do take steps to maintain your blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol.

You feel very tired despite sleeping for a long time

It could be an onset of flu or head cold OR you may be feeling tired because your sleep is disturbed on account of a neurological disorder like restless leg syndrome (RLS) that is usually experienced when you are not moving your legs and acutely felt at bedtime. In RLS, you have a twitchy and itchy feeling in your legs and is generally equated with obesity, varicose veins, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, pregnancy, anemia, diabetes, poor nerves and kidney issues. Sleep apnea is another sleep disorder, wherein your breathing becomes shallow and very slow. It occurs when you are asleep and your abnormal breathing disturbs your sleep. Women, who snore and wake up gasping for breath, may be suffering from sleep apnea, wherein your throat muscles relaxes making breathing difficult. Headaches, sore throat, loss of memory, depression and irritability are other signs of sleep apnea. If these symptoms persist for longer than a month, you must visit a specialist for treatment. It is possible to cure yourself through yoga, meditation, weight loss and change in lifestyle.

You have trouble remembering the right words

Lack of enough sleep or sleep deprivation may make you feel disoriented temporarily, due to which you may mix up your words. For example, saying “mopping sall” instead of “shopping mall” or “par cark” as opposed to “car park”. OR although, an occasional slip up is normal, it could be a cause for concern, if you speak words that are different from what you mean, like saying “movie theatre” instead of “college building”. When this happens, it may be an indication of a brain stroke on account of a clot or a burst blood vessel, which blocks oxygen supply to your brain cells. Additional signs include dizziness, slurred speech, blurred vision, temporary amnesia, stiff neck and less co-ordination that could result in a mini-stroke. Get medical help quickly if you see any of these signs. It is important to stabilize your sugar levels, high blood pressure and weight gain.

Your calf is swollen and painful

It is a common sign of a pulled muscle OR a blood clot in the leg. Studies show that DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis mostly affects people above 40. DVT occurs in the larger veins in the calf, blocks the flow of blood and cause pain and swelling. It cannot be mistaken for a cramp if the symptoms include difficulty in breathing, coughing and chest pain, which could suggest that DVT has traveled up to the lungs and could be fatal. Sitting for very long periods could aggravate DVT. Do visit your doctor soon if the above symptoms are there and take medication right away. Smoking, weight gain and sitting during long trips should be avoided.

You have a harmless mole on your arm

It is considered normal to develop moles between age 20 and 30 BUT it may be a sign of skin cancer or melanoma, especially if the existing mole has changed color, shape, etc., as development of new moles after 40 is not a good sign. Melanoma is prevalent among fair skinned women, especially Caucasians living in hot climates, where it is possible to get sunburned. Precautionary steps can be taken by visiting your dermatologist at the first sign of a mole and do a biopsy for malignancy. Use sunscreen liberally while out in the sun and do an annual check-up without fail.

You have persistent cough

Coughing on rare occasions could be considered as an onset of cold BUT if it is persistent, it may indicate the onset of asthma, especially if you cough while performing an exercise program or while sleeping. Additionally, if you are gasping for breath or wheezing or feel pressure in the chest, you could be having an asthma attack. Obesity, smoking, allergies, respiratory infections put you on a high risk of asthma. It is always wise to treat asthma as it is a progressive disease and could develop into something serious, if neglected.

You have pain in the pelvic region

You may mistake the pain to do with some kind of gastrointestinal infection OR it could be a symptom of ovarian cancer. Other signs for this kind of cancer, are difficulty in eating as you feel full fast, frequent urination and unusual bowel movements. It is also considered to be a hereditary disease, although it is treatable if detected early. If your symptoms persists even after following up on a fiber-rich nutrition and weight loss program, you better take the first ride out to your gynecologist for confirmation. It may be noted that the odds against ovarian cancer increases as you get older.

You have a numb and burning sensation in your feet

It could be caused on account of a tight pair of shoes OR you could be on the threshold of having high sugar levels in your blood a.k.a pre-diabetes. Thousands of people are falling prey to this illness on account of poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyle. If neglected, it could develop into full blown diabetes. Foot symptoms are an indication of how far the disease has progressed in your body and can affect your nervous system, if ignored. Other signs are numbness in the arms and hands, frequent urination, excessive hunger and thirst pangs, weight loss, blurred vision and tiredness. Call your doctor if the numbness persists and do a check-up of your blood and urine for sugar analysis. This should give sufficient cause to exercise everyday and have healthy food choices.

Since the past few decades,  women at 40 plus have emerged highly capable, intelligent, committed, dedicated, loyal with sharp wits to match. She is the quintessential business woman and home maker and juggles both the roles with ease and finesse. In order to keep going, you need to stay flexible, enhance your energy levels, control your weight, regulate your insulin and cholesterol and keep your heart healthy and fit. so, please don't ignore these signs as nothing. Take note of them and act immediately.